The government has announced plans to euthanise thousands of citizens who have underlying health conditions.
Adults of any age who suffer from pre-existing health conditions are at a significantly higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19. The majority of Malta’s 46 deaths from the virus so far fall into this category.
The announcement was made by Health Minister Chris Fearne this afternoon.
“Earlier today, Professor Gauci and I signed off on Operation Scorched Earth, whereby all citizens with underlying health conditions are strongly encouraged to report to their nearest health centre to receive a lethal injection that will immunise them from Covid-19,” Fearne told journalists.
“In this way, we hope to drastically reduce the rate at which people are dying from the virus. Studies show that euthanisation has almost a 100 per cent success rate, far more effective than any vaccine could ever be,” he said.
Fearne added that the lethal injection will cost 20 euro.
The list of conditions includes cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart conditions, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Operation Scorched Earth was reportedly the idea of Prime Minister Robert Abela.
“Faced with the choice of implementing more restrictions, or mass euthanisation, he opted for the latter without hesitation,” a government source told Bis-Serjetà.
