The President’s Fun Run, held on Sunday to raise funds for the Community Chest Fund, has raised questions as to whether the health authorities are choosing which mass activities to allow and which others to prohibit.

Over the past weeks, there has been a steady rise in the number of Covid-19 cases, but while some activities and events were allowed, others are still being banned.

The Fun Run, which was held in 24 localities, followed the controversy which erupted when Covid-19 protocols were being ignored at the Sigma conference which was held last week. A party connected with the event had to be stopped by the police too.

Comments on the social media abounded again after the fun run on Sunday, which attracted 7,000 participants on the same day that the number of new Covid-19 cases climbed above 100 for the first time since August.

Among those who commented was the parish priest of St George in Qormi. Why are 100 people allowed to gather for a fun run while 100 are not allowed to gather behind a procession with the statue of Baby Jesus?, the parish priest wrote on Facebook.

Why have some protocols been changed but not for religious activities? Why can some events be held in controlled circumstances while no religious activity is allowed in public?, he added.

Is the pandemic being used as an excuse to control religious activity, he wondered, adding that everyone should be treated equally.

All religious activities are still prohibited by the health authorities.