Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1391768
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 11 JULY 2021 OPINION It feels like it has become an exercise in futility to keep pointing this out, but once again it seems the Government is excelling in making decisions which contain zero logic. So, let me get this straight: many families from the UK had to cancel their holidays because their teenagers (12-17) were not vaccinated, yet we have al- lowed hordes of un-vaccinated language students from oth- er EU countries. They are not only lumped together in hotels (where you can be sure adher- ing to rules is the last thing on their mind), but from what many have told me, they were allowed to roam around freely in groups without masks or ad- hering to the rule of 6, (because the law, yet again, is only for the law-abiding). Considering the rigid strict- ness imposed on British teen- agers (including those who have family here), I assumed, like many others, that language stu- dents had to be vaccinated to enter Malta. But no, that would be too logical. On 28 May 2021, the vaccine was approved for use in chil- dren aged 12 to 15 in the EU, but as it turns out the roll-out for this age group in several other countries is slower than ours. The recommendation by the ECDC is that, "As the course of COVID-19 disease is typically milder in healthy ado- lescents, vaccine uptake in older age groups should continue to be given priority before target- ing adolescents as a whole." It seems that, unlike Malta, which rolled out the vaccine for those over 16 in May, followed by 12-15 year-olds in June, in other countries this cohort has not yet been vaccinated. Just to take one example, according to www.ourworldindata.com, Portugal, which has seen a se- vere spike in the Delta variant (which accounts for nearly 90% of cases) has a very low uptake of vaccinations among the 18- 24 age group, and there are no stats available for those under 18. In Malta, the language stu- dents have been allowed entry based on negative PCR tests. The never-ending queues at the airport, we were told, were because documents were be- ing carefully checked, so one wonders how there was still an outbreak. Fake tests? False neg- atives? Or was it just one or two cases with no symptoms which caused the rapid spread of the Delta variant among the groups of students in nine language schools who socialised freely af- ter school hours? We know that this variant is more transmissi- ble than any other, but the large number of cases overnight, when all these students had (os- tensibly) tested negative, does not add up. It also begs the question, are the PCR tests on their own re- liable or not? As I was writing this, a much-needed press con- ference was called by Health Minister Chris Fearne and Prof. Charmaine Gauci who an- nounced that as from Wednes- day 14 July, English language schools will be closed and only those who are fully vaccinated may enter the country. It was a pleasant surprise to see such swift action although, granted, it should never have come to this. It is clear that English-lan- guage schools simply cannot operate in these circumstances when the demographic they ca- ter for is unv-accinated. It is an- other blow to this industry, but those are the harsh facts. Solu- tions have to be found to save this sector from going under completely, but that solution was not by giving incoming stu- dents vouchers as an incentive, but by ensuring that the stu- dents who do come here are not putting us at risk. Why, for example, did the MTA not target vaccinated adults who want to learn Eng- lish? Apart from avoiding risk of infection, smaller groups of adults would have been easi- er to handle than hundreds of rowdy teenagers getting a taste of unsupervised freedom for the first time in their lives. Finally, I find it quite ironic that we were so afraid of teen- agers coming from the UK with their family that they were re- fused entry even with a PCR test, yet the outbreak came from those who came here to study English, for whom a PCR test was deemed enough. So, tell me, where does YOUR pay-cheque come from? Throughout this pandemic I have often noticed that it is very easy for those who work with the civil service or a sector which falls under the Govern- ment, to be cavalier about not opening up the private sector. Whether it is language schools, bars/restaurants or the events/ entertainment industry, the cry of "keep them closed" is uttered much too quickly. While I have worked in the private sector most of my life, the few years I spent in the pub- lic sector opened my eyes to just how different the culture is at the respective workplaces. In the latter, no matter how poor- ly you perform, you will always be guaranteed a pay-cheque. It is basically a job for life, which explains why so many want to be put on the public payroll and why so many Ministers slyly oblige their constituents in this respect. In the former, one's employ- ment often depends on market forces and, as many have real- ised over these last 18 months, the money can go as easily as it comes. The self-employed, es- pecially those who have staff de- pending on them for their live- lihood, have a double-whammy of a responsibility as they scramble for survival: they have been trying not to lose all they have built, while not plunging their employees into the despair of unemployment. Yes, there is the wage supplement, but €800 does not go very far if you have a family to support. I just have a small suggestion for those whose pay-cheque has plopped with comforting regu- larity into their bank account at the end of the month without having to worry about how they are going to make ends meet: put yourself in the shoes of those who don't have this lux- ury. They too have children to feed, a mortgage, a car loan and other bills to pay. Have a bit of empathy before being quick to say things like, "keep the airport closed". We talk a lot about the stress and anxiety which COVID-19 has caused, but don't underes- timate that, apart from the ob- vious health issues, the toll on people's mental health is also due to lack of job security and the fear at the pit of one's stom- ach of not being able to provide for their family. Only those who have ever ended up without a job, can truly understand how that feels. Football is best watched home, alone If you're reading this on Sun- day, you still have tonight's Italy vs. England match to look for- ward to, something few thought would ever actually happen. No matter whom you support, it was nice to see people in both countries so ecstatic about their team making it to the Eu- ro 2020. We needed to have some joy and optimism again in our lives, and this provided a much-needed tonic. Of course, that doesn't mean tensions are not running high. A straw poll I carried out on the FB group The Salott re- vealed that the majority prefer to watch it in the comfort (and the privacy) of their home alone, or with just their immediate family. This is understandable on an island where football ri- valry between the fans of these two teams is only matched by our political rivalry. Diehard supporters are known for not wanting to hear remarks about "their" team, even (or perhaps especially) something said in jest. There's no such thing as good-natured ribbing among staunch fans; they take it much too seriously. So the decision to stay at home in cases like this is probably for the best. As for those who have just moved here, who have nev- er seen Malta go mad over foot- ball, just sit back and watch the spectacle when the supporters of the winning team spend Sun- day evening and most of Mon- day tearing up and down the island in car-cades, replete with the flag of which ever country has won. The losing side will stay at home, turn off their phones and stay off FB, while licking their wounds and trying not to show how sore they are about losing. There are historic reasons for what may seem like a weird ri- valry, which you can google. However, I suggest you don't even try and understand it – it's just our thing, just one of those quirks which make Malta what it is. So let me get this straight… UK teens, no. But EU teens, yes? Josanne Cassar The never-ending queues at the airport, we were told, were because documents were being carefully checked, so one wonders how there was still an outbreak. Fake tests? False negatives?