Updated 5.20pm

The nurses' union on Sunday expressed disappointment over the way the public health authorities are administrating the Coronavirus contingency plan, saying it is 'being kept under wraps'.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) also labelled as 'a joke' the quarantine measures being taken by the government since no checks are being made to ensure that quarantine is actually being respected.

"Members of MUMN reported to MUMN that staff arriving from Bergamo returned to work the following day of their arrival in Malta ignoring completely the quarantine ordered," the union said in a statement. 

The alpine Lombardy region, where Bergamo is located, is at the centre of Europe's biggest outbreak of COVID-19 (new coronavirus).

The union did not say where the 'staff' worked but it insisted that where quarantine is needed, its enforcement should be checked.

Last week,Times of Malta reported that two passengers arriving on a flight from Bergamo were tested for COVID-19 and given the all-clear. 

The passengers felt feverish after reaching Malta and visited a health centre voluntarily. All arriving passengers are now being screened by thermal scanners.

No COVID-19 cases have been reported in Malta and informed sources said there are no pending tests either.

Last week, doctors represented by the Medical Association of Malta called on the health authorities to test every passenger arriving from Bergamo and to not allow tourists on board. The doctors believe it should only be residents who are allowed to fly to Malta from Bergamo.

The Superintendent of Public Health, Charmaine Gauci, has told Times of Malta that anyone concerned about people who should be in self-quarantine but were out and about before the 14 days were up, should reach out to the health authorities.

Anyone with doubts over who should be in quarantine or not should call the public health department’s helpline.

No deduction from vacation leave

In its statement on Sunday, the MUMN insisted that days spent in quarantine should not be deducted from vacation leave. 

The union warned that deducting quarantine days from vacation leave could lead people to not inform their superiors that they had been abroad.

"Such a system which was imposed by OPM without consultation with MUMN would lead that all hospital staff would rightly so not inform the Human Resources Department of their respective hospitals and would return to work just after arriving back to Malta," the union said in its statement.

Government denies there is a deduction of vacation leave

In a reaction, the government said it was untrue that quarantine leave by public employees will be taken from their vacation leave.

"The government reaffirms that it has taken the situation of the outbreak of coronavirus very seriously and has taken intensive measures in terms of preparedness and control. As part of the measures, people coming from affected areas are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days," it said.

"In such situations, the Manual on Special Leaves in the Public Service Management Code provides for the provision of quarantine leave. Public officers who are precluded by the Superintendent of Public Health from attending to their duties are to be allowed special leave on full pay during the period of such absence."

It added that it is the responsibility of the individuals coming from affected areas to ensure they stay in quarantine as requested by health authorities.

The public will continue to be informed of all the preparations through regular press briefings and media interventions.