“Drastic and timely decisions” are needed in order to avoid the collapse of the healthcare system in Malta, PN MP and health spokesperson Stephen Spiteri said on Monday.

In a Facebook post, Spiteri questioned whether the Covid-19 pandemic is under control, or whether we have lost control – reflecting a question asked of the government multiple times as of late, with the government each time replying that the situation is under control.

Spiteri said that it is certain that the spread of the virus is strong in the community, and that there are already high numbers of active cases every day, which will only increase in the coming months.

The number of patients with complications in ITU has doubled in the past week, and there have been a number of deaths related to Covid-19 in the past days as well, Spiteri said.

He said that the situation is serious, quoting Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci in this regard.  He noted that this is also being said by the Association of Pathologics, by the Medical Association of Malta, and by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses.

“Drastic and timely decisions are needed in order to avoid a collapse in the health care system in our country, in our hospitals”, Spiteri wrote.

He said that everyone has to be responsible in order to control the pandemic, not least those who lead the country.

“It is not a normal situation, and that’s why there is the need for extraordinary action”, Spiteri said.

He said that the calling of a public health emergency with the inclusion of experts on medicine and science is an absolute must.

Malta currently has 1,895 cases of Covid-19 – a continued record high – after 80 cases of the virus were reported on Monday; the first time in 12 days that less than 100 cases were reported in a single day.

53 people have died from the virus so far, with eight of those passing away in the last week.  The most recent death was reported on Monday morning.