Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1309486
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 NOVEMBER 2020 NEWS Tabor Consult Limited SITUATION VACANT We are seeking the services of a Personal Assistant to perform duties of driving, running errands, upkeep of office and cooking vegan meals. Apply by sending an email with your CV to tabor@europe.com what justified". But only 1% think that these restrictions are not at all not justified while 3% think that these restrictions are "some- what not justified". Among re- spondents in all EU countries, 5% consider restrictions as not at all justified while 12% think that these are "not very justi- fied". The most likely to think that restrictions were not justified were the Bulgarians (37%) and the Romanians (38%). Opposi- tion to restrictions tended to be higher in Eastern and Cen- tral European countries like Croatia (29%), Austria (28%), Slovenia (30%), Slovakia (27%), Poland (24%). Agreement with restrictions was highest in Malta, Denmark and the Netherlands (94%) and lowest in Romania (61%). In Malta the survey was held in July following the lifting of more restrictive measures be- tween March and May. In Italy which had the high- est mortality rate during the first phase and where a full lockdown was imposed 14% expressed disagreement with restrictions. In Spain which also had a full lockdown and a high mortality rate 12% disagreed with restrictions. Disagreement was higher in France where 19% disagreed with measures restricting pub- lic liberties. In Germany 10% disagreed with restrictions on public liberties. In Sweden where most restrictions were imposed on a voluntary basis only 7% disagreed with limita- tions on public liberties. Disagreement with restrictions on public liberties Strongest disagreement Romania 38% Bulgaria 37% Slovenia 30% Croatia 29% Austria 28% Lowest disagreement Finland 7% Sweden 7% Denmark 6% Netherlands 6% Malta 4% MATTHEW VELLA FAMILY doctors have said gath- erings inside private homes are nullifying social distancing rec- ommendations aimed at fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Malta College of Fami- ly Doctors (MCFD) has com- plained of scant enforcement of the restrictive measures aimed at bringing down the high numbers of COVID-19 infections and to keep Malta out of a lockdown. "We understand the reasoning for trying not to follow in the steps of other European Union member states who went into partial lockdowns, but on the other hand does not understand the scant enforcement of the restrictive measures aimed to circuit-break the current high numbers while keeping the country out of a lockdown. "It is ironic that most school- children, who are the least af- fected by COVID-19, are dil- igently wearing face masks, staying in bubbles and regularly cleaning hands and desks, whilst a substantial part of the vulnera- ble elderly, who are most at risk of COVID-19, are aggregating in groups in broad daylight without appropriate wearing of masks and without the recommended social distancing," the MFCD said. The College called for an edu- cational campaign targeted to- wards why and how the elderly should help themselves. It also said it did not approve of social gatherings in private homes and other premises "in a blatant circumvention of social distancing recommendations." "This nullifies the big sacri- fices of owners and employees of small businesses that had to close down because of the same social distancing recommenda- tions. "The MCFD calls on policy makers to learn from their mis- takes of the summer when they shot the country in the foot by allowing incoming tourists to enter the country without prior testing for COVID-19 and al- lowing mass events. Restrictive measures issued by national au- thorities must be enforced by the same national authorities." The College said Malta's "cul- tural and historical trend of a society that lacks discipline" had to be reversed to get out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said Malta's healthcare system had to be protected. "Already characterised by de- creased and/or stalled services, our country cannot risk having the healthcare system over- whelmed, not only to maintain care of COVID19 patients but to continue to provide sterling care to patients with all the other diseases which continue to exert their usual toll." Family gatherings blatant disregard of COVID-19 restrictions, doctors say Social gatherings in private homes "nullifies the big sacrifices of owners and employees of small businesses that had to close down because of the same social distancing recommendations" The College said Malta's "cultural and historical trend of a society that lacks discipline" had to be reversed to get out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said Malta's healthcare system had to be protected