Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the enforcement of Covid-19 regulations is crucial and very much needed.

“This does not mean that we will kill off one sector or another, but on the contrary, it means that the increased enforcement will translate into allowing sectors to remain open and lead to us being able to get out of this period successfully”, Abela said. 

The Prime Minister yesterday held a consultation meeting at the Auberge de Castille with the representatives of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), in connection with the 2021 Budget.

Abela expressed his understanding that there are businesses in the country, like bars, that are complaining about the ongoing regulations due to Covid-19, but reiterated and said that this is necessary in order for the country to get out of this period successfully.

Abela stressed that everyone should use masks to in order to better control the rate of infection.

“Through educational campaigns, we want to get the message about the importance of wearing masks and their wider use across,” he said.

The need for more screening is also very important, he said. Abela reiterated that the solution is not to close the airport, but to find a safer way to travel.

He added that it is crucial to have a rapid testing system and to increase the number of tests on people who are arriving in Malta and who do not have a negative certificate for COVID-19.

“Although our system is working well, it can still be improved through testing of passengers coming to Malta,” Abela said.

“We do not want to go to extremes, but create a balanced situation. These measures will not stifle the country, but will better preserve economic sectors.”

He expressed his confidence that tomorrow will be better and reiterated that “we cannot say that things will normalize on their own, because from experience, we have seen that if the government does not update the measures it has taken and maintain a cautious control over the situation, things can get worse.”

 “We have managed to maintain the economic cycle and our daily lives. The easiest thing for the government to do is increase restrictions, however, it is crucial that people be more responsible,” he added.

MHRA President Tony Zahra said that “we have great challenges ahead of us, but there is no doubt that together we can overcome them.”

“With the help of the government, we can get out of this global crisis, particularly in the field of hospitality which was among the hardest hit by the pandemic,” Zahra said.

Zahra thanked the government for its help in extending the tourism sector and for the frontliners in every field.