The government should invest in a swab testing machine for Gozo and should also set up a dedicated contact tracing team on the island, the Nationalist Party said.
In a statement signed by PN MP Chris Said, the PN said the government’s “irresponsibility and incompetence” in dealing with the Covid-19 situation is also negatively affecting Gozitans.
It accused the government of saying one thing but acting differently.
Over the past few days, a number of Gozitan front liners and vulnerable people were told to travel to Malta for the vaccine. This is unacceptable when the government has said that it has just opened a new vaccination centre in Gozo, the PN said, noting a recent promise by the government that Gozitans would receive the vaccination in Gozo.
It also criticised the lack of controls on travel between the islands. The government said this week that non-essential travel is being restricted, but the PN said the only controls in place at Cirkewwa are temperature checks.
The PN called on the government to buy the necessary equipment so that swabs can be tested in Gozo. “A year has passed since the start of the pandemic, but the government has not forced Steward Health Care to purchase an RT-PCR machine for Gozo. As a result, results can take up to two days to come out.”
It also appealed for the setting up of a contact tracing team in Gozo. “It is evident that they have lost control and some people are being contacted over a week late.”
All Gozitans will receive vaccine in Gozo - ministry
Reacting, the Gozo Ministry said that, together with the Health Ministry it has conferted the Gozo Conferenence and Expo Centre in Rabat into a primary vaccination centre.
This location has the capacity to accommodate all Gozitans through an extensive vaccination programme, it said. As has been already stated, Gozitans will be vaccinated in Gozo, the ministry said.
The PN also failed to say that teachers who had been given an appointement in Malta will be given a new appointment in Gozo, the ministry continued.
The ministry said that fight against Covid-19 should not be politicised.