So much pressure was put on the government to close down schools when the first cases of Coronavirus were registered in Malta, and yet when Prime Minister Robert Abela announced their temporary shutdown, children started to congregate in playgrounds and other public areas, taken there by parents who, the day before, wanted schooling to be suspended for fears of the spread of the disease.

So much pressure was then put on the government to close down pubs, bars, restaurants and cinemas, again to control the spread of the virus as much as possible, and yet at the first occasion hundreds of people flocked to public places and gave the middle finger to what the health chief had suggested – for people to stay indoors.

Calls for a total lockdown have not stopped, but given the way some people continue to behave, it is probable that there will still be many who, if and when the government decides to order it, will defy logic and the recommendations of our health authorities.

What’s the point of showing support to our medical staff by making some noise on our balconies and yet then behaving in such a way as to make it easier for Coronavirus to spread to add to the work of the same medical staff? Our doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are risking their own health to take care of Coronavirus patients, and it is highly irresponsible and disrespectful that some people voluntarily take the risk of contracting or spreading the contagious disease.

A story The Malta Independent published on Thursday, reporting how many people were meeting in Gnejna and other places for picnics, went viral on the social media. This was hours after Health Minister Chris Fearne had said that Malta will not be spared deaths from Coronavirus and just after Health Chief Charmaine Gauci had said that “the worst has not come yet”.

Thankfully, most of the people who commented on the story and shared it expressed their disgust at the reckless behaviour, which means that in their great majority, people are following the instructions being given by the experts.

The people who are disregarding what health authorities are advocating should simply take a look at the situation in Italy to understand the consequences of their conduct. When Coronavirus hit Italy and cases started to increase, many Italians ignored calls for them to socially distance themselves from their relatives and friends. This led to the multiplication of cases over a short span of time, and within three weeks Italy has now surpassed China in the number of Coronavirus deaths registered.

Italy has 60 million inhabitants, but now it has recorded more deaths than China, which has a population over 20 times larger.

Our intention is not to be alarmist, but sometimes people need to be told over and over again what their behaviour might lead to. On the same day some Maltese people were enjoying their picnics, a person died every four minutes in Italy because of the Coronavirus spread. These people died in solitude, far from their loved ones, who could not be near them for fears of more contagions, or else because the relatives are themselves fighting for their life.

There will be time for picnics, parties and other social occasions. Right now, the best thing is to avoid being together.