Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1383989
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 JUNE 2021 NEWS Arts lobby demands reopening plan, will hold demonstration next week NICOLE MEILAK THE Malta Entertainment and Arts Asso- ciation (MEIA) will be holding a demon- stration titled 'Daqshekk Siekta' (Silent no more) on Thursday 24 June, demanding that authorities draw up a sustainable re- opening plan up till end of year. The demonstration will take place at St George's Square at 7pm in accordance with the health and safety protocols in ef- fect at the time of the event. Explaining the reasons for the demonstration, the MEIA said that it was left with no choice after government failed to accept its proposals for the industry. "Considering the current realities with such as successful vaccine roll out as well and herd immunity as well as acknowl- edging the fact that public health remains a priority, there is no logical reason why the respective authorities did not accept MEIA's reasonable proposals and keeping back such roadmap," MEIA said. "This does not reflect other EU trends where the data has shown over and over again that there is no correlation between a spike in cases and the arts and entertain- ment industry. In fact, all three waves of infections happened whist our industry was shut." The Association maintained that it wants to safeguard the equal rights of all profes- sionals in the arts and entertainment sec- tors without hindrance to their livelihoods. However, it insisted that everything must be done safely and legally. "We are an industry that requires plan- ning, so we have to know what will happen till the end of year from now. Of course, if the numbers go up for whatever reason, we understand that things would need to change." As part of MEIA's national campaign on the matter, the Association asked that any events that will be held virtually or in per- son with limited capacity ought to be car- ried out under protest, with a statement to be seen on stage, at the venue or publicly read out before the performance. Last Friday, government announced that social events can start taking place on 5 Ju- ly, but only fully-vaccinated persons will be admitted into these events. Only sit-down events will be permitted for the time being so as to ensure social distancing and other COVID-19 preven- tive measures, while a risk assessment form will have to be filled out by the or- ganisers for each event. In terms of capacity, these events will be limited to one person every four square metres. However, the maximum capac- ity at any social or cultural event will be capped at 100 persons. Frustration This led to anger and frustration among members of the arts and entertainment industry. On her part, singer Ira Losco argued that the arts is a profession that people study and work for, with people in- vesting a lot of time and effort to succeed in the industry. In turn, it should be respected as a career on which people's livelihood depends. "Unfortunately our industry has been de- monised. Why? Let me tell you why, and to this day I read this in the comments on so- cial media platforms - because of an event that happened last summer. An event that took place at a hotel and of course a lot of cases came from there," she said, in refer- ence to the Hotel Takeover Summer 2020 that took place last July. She argued that the reason this happened wasn't because of the event, but because the airport was open to all travellers at the time, with significantly less controls in place. Losco added that without controlled en- tertainment events, people are more likely to opt for underground events, with con- gregations of people on beaches and other uncontrolled areas. Israel, along with 40 US states territories, have been added to Malta's amber list, the health authorities have announced. This means travellers will not have to quarantine upon returning to the island. However, they must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours from arrival on the island or if Maltese, provide a vaccine certificate. The decision will come into effect from 17 June. This is the first time that Israel and certain states and territories from the US have been put on the amber list since its creation. The 40 US states and territories are: Washington, Oregon, Louisiana, Arizona, West Virginia, Colorado, North Dakota, Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, Maine, South Dakota, Michigan, Illinois, Delaware, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Jersey, Minnesota, Connecticut, Alaska, New Hampshire, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Vermont, California. The health authorities said persons who have a vaccination certificate that is recognised and approved by the superintendent of public health might also travel to and from Malta from any country listed below: Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bhutan, Fiji, Jamaica, Georgia, Faroe Islands, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Vietnam, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Panama, Qatar, Cuba, Russia, Serbia, Taiwan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia. Travel is not permitted from countries not on the amber list unless travellers have spent at least 14 days in an amber list country before arriving on the island. The expectation to this is for Maltese nationals who have written permission from the superintendence of public health. Israel and 40 US states and territories added to amber list CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A further weekly service will be added from September. The airline said this was done due to strong bookings from the French and Dutch markets. The airline said it was closely mon- itoring all the developments in the market and adapting its network ac- cordingly. Air Malta said the continued ab- sence of green list status in the UK and the decline in advance bookings with no obvious signs of improve- ment left it with no option but to consolidate its operations. "The UK remains an integral part of our future network plans, and Air Malta will reconsider its position if the circumstances change," Air Mal- ta's Chief Commercial Officer Roy Kinnear said. This summer, Air Malta will op- erate direct flights to and from 19 cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Catania, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Ge- neva, Lisbon, London Heathrow, Ly- on, Munich, Milan Linate, Palermo, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Paris Orly, Prague, Rome, Vienna, and Zurich. Air Malta increases flights to Paris and Amsterdam