The Chamber of Pharmacists, which is the national professional organisation with trade union rights and responsibilities representing pharmacists, has condemned the belittling of the MAM.

“The Prime Minister's declaration [presumably referring to Abela’s statement that some seem to be rejoicing that the numbers have increased] shows his lack of respect for (some) social partners and of social dialogue, not least the respect for national professional organisations which harbour those who are experts in health matters.”

The Chamber said that it is “flabbergasted” at the PM's stance - himself a professional, and at the Tourism Minister, together with her partners in the tourism and entertainment industry, “on their puerile affirmations, in particular....declaring that "with hindsight...we should have not done this or that! whilst playing with the lives of the people especially the most vulnerable ones, the front liners and others.”

This was clearly in reference to what the president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association Tony Zahra told The Malta Independent that, in hindsight, Malta possibly reopened for mass events too fast.

“The Chamber calls for all concerned to focus on health at present to reach a credible agreement with the MAM, as crafted with the Minister for Health and the Superintendent of Public Health, so that with the nation pulling one rope we can revert to the excellent position of sustained zero cases of just two weeks ago. Otherwise all the sacrifices and discipline shown during the preceding months will truly have been in vain. The Maltese deserve much more.”