Looking back at 2020 | Coronavirus, a changed Malta, and a tale of two waves
How Malta lost control over the second wave but avoided a devastating viral tsunami
28 December 2020, 7:30am
by James Debono
If there was one day which captured the collective spirit of the nation as it struggled against the virus, it was the collective display of appreciation for front-liners on 17 March, when thousands took to their balconies to applaud doctors and nurses keeping the country safe, during the weeks of partial lockdown.
Despite a spike in cases and deaths since the start of a deadly second wave in mid-August, the resilience and efficiency of the Maltese national health service remained a constant all through a challenging year. It was a reminder that after decades of neoliberal orthodoxy, efficiency and public ownership were not antithetical. Indeed, never before has the spirit of public service and nationalised services proven more crucial.