The organisers of last week’s Sigma conference were telling foreign exhibitors in September that they could secure them an exemption for up to ten unvaccinated individuals, but they were shut down by the health authorities when their communications with clients came to light, The Malta Independent on Sunday can reveal.
The organisers later made a second attempt to obtain exemptions for visitors, asking the health authorities to grant waivers for up to 1,500 foreign attendees, but the y were once again rejected.
The Sigma Europe conference, which was held at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali between 15 and 18 November, raised eyebrows over the evident lack of Covid-19 protocols, such as temperature checking, failure to check vaccination certificates, and lack of enforcement on mask-wearing. These are all required at mass events.
This newsroom later received information that the organisers had also asked the health authorities to issue waivers so that visitors who are either unvaccinated or do not have vaccine certificates recognised by the authorities could come to Malta without the requirement to quarantine.
Currently, anyone who has not yet taken the Covid-19 vaccine or who is not the holder of a Malta-recognised vaccine certificate must quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.
This newsroom has seen evidence of Sigma’s ‘exemption’ correspondence with clients in the form of emails sent to prospective attendees.
In one such email seen by The Malta Independent on Sunday, a Sigma official told clients: “In order to give the possibility to each of our clients to attend our Sigma, AIBC, AGS November show, we are giving the possibility to 10 of your team members unvaccinated, to get an exemption to be able to travel to Malta for the show.”
Clients were asked for the personal details, including passport numbers of the individuals who would be applying for an extension.
In follow-up correspondence, Sigma said this applied both for unvaccinated individuals as well as for people who have taken a Covid vaccine but whose certificate is not yet recognised by the Maltese health authorities.
Health sources told this newsroom that they were initially unaware of this correspondence but, once it came to light, the organisers were told that no exemptions would be given.
“They were doing this out of their own steam and, once we became aware of it, we stopped it.”
Sometime later, Sigma made an official request to the health authorities, asking for exemptions to be given to up to 1,500 individuals. This newsroom is informed that the Superintendence of Public Health, led by Professor Charmaine Gauci, told the organisers that no such exemptions would be issued, and that Covid-19 travel rules would have to be followed.
The sources said that only around 20 individuals were eventually allowed to skip the quarantine requirement, and this was because they still satisfied the required criteria.
“These were individuals who had taken EMA approved vaccines in countries whose certificates are not currently accepted by Malta, but who had also taken a third dose in a country that is recognised, such as an EU country,” one source said.
“In reality, this is something that is done in general, not just for Sigma or any other particular event, and the criteria are still quite stringent. They were allowed because they fit the criteria, so this was not really an exemption,” the source continued.
Questions sent to Sigma remain unanswered.
Covid rules not followed, enforcement lacking
The Malta Independent revealed last week that hardly any Covid-19 protocols were being followed at the Ta’ Qali conference. Visitors and staff members who approached this newspaper spoke of the lax attitude shown at the venue. Several photos and videos of the event confirmed that the requirement to wear masks inside the venue was not being adhered, including during a visit by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri.
This evident breach of Covid protocols also goes against the conditions laid down in an Exhibitor Manual for the event, a copy of which was also obtained by this newsroom.
The manual states that staff at the entrance would be carrying hand sanitizers and that “temperatures will be taken and anyone with a high temperature will not be allowed to enter the venue and will be escorted immediately off the property by our first aiders.”
The manual states that all exhibitors would have to wear masks. Face masks would also be issued to all attendees on arrival, but there is nothing in the document about ensuring that the masks would be worn.
It also states that “our first aiders will roam the exhibition floor taking people’s temperature and keeping alert for people displaying symptoms.” Attendees who spoke to this newsroom said temperature checks were not being taken, neither at the door nor inside.
Other measures mentioned in the manual include widened corridors and other measures to ensure social distancing, and the requirement for all food court staff to wear “full protective equipment” like masks and gloves.
This newsroom was unable to ascertain which authority was tasked with enforcing the rules at the conference, with entities pointing their finger at each other.
Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo insisted last week that the MTA inspectors had visited the conference venue but was unable to say when and at what time.
The only visible action taken was when the police and MTA officials shut down a party that was taking place on Wednesday night at Sky Club in Paceville, where headliner Akon, who had taken part in the conference, was forced to cancel his performance. The party was stopped early due to a lack of adherence to Covid-19 rules, with sources saying the police and MTA acted after noticing that the event was overcrowded.