The Italian government has declared the region of Lombardia and 14 provinces in northern Italy as quarantine zone, where people are forbidden to travel unless they receive special permission, the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) said in a statement, arguing that flights from the region should be stopped.

"This was ordered because the situation in Italy is very grave with the epidemic spreading like wildfire to thousands, with hundreds of deaths and intensive care admissions. Italy is moving to the situation already seen in china where the only remedy was complete lockdown."

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"It is clear that the Italian authorities just like china have failed to stop the epidemic with their soft approach and have now changed to lockdown approach. The World Health Organisation's failure to recommend travel bans has resulted in a global pandemic."

Singapore and Hong Kong introduced travel bans from mainland china and quickly controlled the epidemic, MAM said.

"The three cases in Malta are the result of a family who travelled to northern Italy despite the advice not to do so. While this family was lucky to get mild illness, not everybody will be so lucky. They have created a grave risk for all the half a million inhabitants of the Maltese islands."

"Yet incredibly daily flights to Malta from the lockdown areas in Italy continue unabated, with two more flights due today . Medical advice of all the consultants in the department of medicine at Mater Dei Hospital recommended this ban one week ago. All trade unions and social partners with the exception of MHRA have already insisted to stop these flights."

"For the above reasons MAM appeals to the government to stop with immediate effect all flights from northern Italy, and to order mandatory quarantine for flights from other cities from Italy. The soft approach is a proven failure, let us protect our country and not have to go into lockdown after thousands get sick."

"Failing this MAM is ready to take whatever measure necessary to protect its members and the general public."