The government intends to withdraw all of Malta’s connectivity restrictions by 15 July, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced last Sunday.

Those working in the hospitality sector undoubtedly breathed a sigh of relief, as after so many weeks of having no tourists and struggling to keep afloat, they could now see some hope on the horizon.

However there are many who are questioning the logic of opening the airport and ports to all destinations when the virus is still taking lives around the world. Is the government taking away too many restrictive measures too fast? Is the government putting money before our health? Is this happening because the government is unable to help businesses any longer? These are just some of the questions those who fear the repercussions of the government’s actions are asking.

While Malta’s virus numbers are low, the threat of a second wave does exist, especially since Malta will be opening its borders. The Prime Minister claims that we have beaten the virus… that will only happen when a vaccine is found. He claims those giving warnings are scaremongering, by doing so he has essentially taken on full responsibility for what comes next, both the good – which we hope it will be, and the possible bad.

Some countries abroad have, according to international media reports, been hit by a resurgence of the virus. As an example, China’s capital was bracing for a resurgence of the coronavirus after more than 100 new cases were reported in recent days in a city that hadn’t seen a case of local transmission in more than a month. Neighbourhoods close to the centre of it have been put on lockdown. South Korea is another example, and the Associated Press, in this regard, writes: “Health officials have struggled to track transmissions linked to entertainment and leisure activities, church gatherings and low-income workers who couldn’t afford to stay home.”

Caution should be the key word. It is questionable whether Malta will have the resources to sustain businesses in the case of a second wave, and as such the government must get this right. But countries that have seen a resurgence, have had to reintroduce certain measures, and if numbers again hit Malta, it is likely that we would need to do the same.

Some countries like the USA, Brazil and India also still have major virus problems.

The government needs to ensure that there are proper safeguards when opening up to destinations, that all the necessary checks at the airport and ports for the virus are done, perhaps even consider mandatory testing upon arrival to the country.

It is good to know that the government is willing to stop travel to countries it deems to pose a risk, as it did by postponing opening the Israel route on 1 July, and the government must continue to monitor the countries where tourists come from. The issue is of course, that some people flying from Italy for example, might not be from that country. As such the government would need to monitor all countries.

The Prime Minister also announced the lifting of the public health emergency. This is understandable given the low number of active virus cases, however perhaps certain restrictions should remain in place for now, and perhaps caution in terms of mass events is a better option. Masks should continue to be worn, and it is good that the Prime Minister has urged this.