Godwin Schembri, the son of an elderly home resident has been left “with no alternative” but to turn to social media to express his concerns about the Residenza San Guzepp home in Fgura.                

“I have already lost my mum, also a resident there, after your management could not contain the spread of the virus, a good four weeks after the first case. It kept spreading clearly because no bubbles, zones and Covid protocols are enforced at the residence”, he said. 

After losing his mother, his main concerns are now centred on his father, who is locked in his room with no interaction or connection to his son. 

He said that the only action taken up by the residence is to confine all residents to their rooms with no opportunities whatsoever to go outside, not even in the corridor. “Do you really think this is a solution when it has been like this for so many weeks already?” 

On Friday, the Health Authorities announced that two more people have died from the virus, bringing the total number of deaths up to 37. 

In most recent weeks the number of elderly people contracting the virus has increased, as most of the victims have been older people and around a quarter have been residents of homes for the elderly.  St. Joseph Home in Fgura was the hardest hit elderly home, with some half of its residents having contracted the virus. 

Over the past days, Malta registered the highest COVID-19 death rate in the EU per 100,000 people over 14 days. 

Schembri said that after the loss of his mother, his father is in need of special attention, but his requests have fallen on deaf ears. Since Monday he has been asking the residence to get his father a doctor to check on his physical and mental state, and to give the family daily updates about his state. “I also have asked so many times for an opportunity to skype him but you never answered this request either.” 

“All of these things continue to happen even after you assure us that action will be taken. These residents need special care but are currently reporting neglect. You speak about the recovery rates but you have not spoken about the new cases and the deaths that occurred due to the COVID spread in your home,” Schembri wrote. 

He said that while he understands that due to the regulations to decrease the spread of the virus, he cannot see his father; he is calling for the home to take action and increase their efforts. “I implore you to take immediate action and take care of our loved ones whom we trusted in your care. Instead your main action has been to keep them behind doors with nobody being held accountable to what is happening there.”