A petition to ban mass gatherings in Malta has garnered over 10,000 signatures within 24 hours of its creation.

The petition comes after Malta registered 14 new cases on Sunday, the largest single-day rise in cases since 31st May. And with a cluster totalling 16 COVID-19 patients linked to a hotel weekend party, active cases are back up to double digits. 

“We are going to lose everything we worked so hard for,” the petition’s description reads.  

Public outcry followed after the spike in COVID-19 cases, with initiatives like this petition springing up. 

“I’m tired of the careless attitudes, greed and total disregard for those that are presently suffering and vulnerable,” a St Paul’s Bay resident wrote as his reason for signing.

“I want normality back in my life as soon as possible and I want to see my 83-year-old mother, whom I have not seen for seven months now.”

“I’m signing because our Prime Minister is going to de facto incarcerate all old and vulnerable people,” another resident from Mosta said.

Medical and employee organisations joined in the call to cancel mass events to prevent a further outbreak of COVID-19, with Malta’s Medical Association describing the situation as a “ticking time bomb” while Malta’s Employee Association warned of the severe impacts to Malta’s economy if the outbreak spirals out of control.

Some events have been cancelled following mounting public pressure, namely large-scale festival Summer Daze who have postponed until next year, whilst Dingli’s youth organisation called their traditional briju celebration off as a precaution. 

Meanwhile, health authorities published a public health alert after a recent COVID-19 patient was found to have attended festa activities in Santa Venera. However, the Archdiocese of Malta responded in that it is up to band clubs and police to decide whether to hold their festivities or not.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has played down these calls to reintroduce restrictions, saying he won’t let panic influence his plans of action, while Malta Chamber of Commerce affirmed that mass events should be permitted if they are held in a responsible fashion.

Do you think mass events should be banned?