The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has called for more drastic measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, saying that Mater Dei Hospital is facing a “crisis”.

Wearing a mask in public is just a political measure with no scientific significance as to reduce the ever increasing numbers of Covid, the MUMN said in a strongly-worded statement. This is proven by the fact that such a measure made no impact in reducing the ever increasing number of Covid cases, the union said.

The situation in Malta is going from bad to worse. Having the Superintendent of Public Health consoling the public by saying that Covid cases are to increase further, without introducing effective measures shows clearly that Prof. Charmaine Gauci “abdicated from her duties to safeguard the public”, the MUMN added.

"The situation in MDH is very serious indeed. The Covid situation is not only the problem MDH is facing. Influenza and other medical conditions are leaving their toll. MDH has reached its full capacity," the MUMN said.

"Not only are all beds in MDH filled but the time has come to consider stopping all non-urgent (elective) surgery which is the high price all Maltese have to pay for allowing bars and other entertainment establishments to remain open. By stopping all non-urgent surgery, beds will be more available for the huge intake of medical cases."

There is no respect to the nurses and to other health professionals who are striving to cope with the huge influx of patients, the MUMN said. Allowing the country to run with no effective Covid measures demonstrates that the government is more inclined to appease the entertainment industry than the health professionals such as the nurses who are working under huge pressures, the union said.

Nurses and other health professionals are paying a high price for allowing the huge numbers of Covid to raise since no effective measures were introduced in this country in these last few weeks. Allowing tourists from high risks countries such as Britain to come to Malta shows clearly that the Government is totally in denial of the consequences which the Maltese are about to face, the MUMN said.

The numerous nurses on sick leave or on quarantine compounded by the shortage of nurses which the Health Division failed to address, not to mention that there are no available beds in MDH, are just a few grave issues taking place right now in MDH. Nurses are utterly tired, exhausted and burned out, the union continued.

"The government failed drastically to prevent that MDH from becoming overwhelmed with patients by allowing bars to remain open and no restrains such as curfews were made as other EU countries. This cannot be allowed to continue since MDH is at a breaking point."

MUMN appealed to the public to refrain from going to any bars and discos and to take all necessary precautions for their own safety. MUMN also appealed to MDH management to stop all elective surgery since the nurses cannot keep up with the heavy workload at the hospital.

The public has to understand that the numbers will never go down “on their own” or with the current measures, and MUMN appealed to the Government to urgently introduce more drastic measures in the interest of the health of the population.