Malta has recorded a takeover of COVID-19 incidents with 3 deaths and 232 confirmed cases since the beginning of the third month of 2024. Figures released on Tuesday show that the number of new cases has skyrocketed, more than doubling in two weeks.
The first case of the disease in Malta was on 7 March 2020. An Italian girl and her family who were then quickly in isolation as required by the Maltese health authority‘s guidelines. Lockdowns were imposed on the elderly and the ones with chronic health issues. This quickly decreased the rise of the disease in Maltese islands.
Current Situation in Malta
In the summer of the same year, Malta was hit with the second wave which was twice as strong as the first. The first death due to COVID-19 in Malta was a 92-year-old woman from Gozo on 8 April. As of December 31, 2023, 121034 confirmed cases, 119631 recoveries, 871 deaths, and 136 active cases had been recorded from Malta.
Source : Springer Link
Malta’s Mater Dei Hospital explained that all preventive measures are being implemented there. 83 COVID patients have been treated since the beginning of the month, although no one has been admitted to intensive care.
In the week ending June 9, 32 new cases were registered before reaching a new high of 84 cases in one week in the week ending June 23.
Malta became the first EU country to open up the vaccine to the entire population in May 2021. The Health minister of Malta announced that as of the end of September 2021, Malta had one of the highest 70% of the Maltese population having become fully vaccinated, rates of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the European Union.
Health Ministry of Malta
Health Minister Jo-Etienne Abela announced that there is no reason to be alarmed by last month’s spike in the number of cases. He said the cases are no more serious than expected and are not causing any stress on the health services.
Source :1000 News
Abela rejected the idea that masks would once again be required, although he did remark that those who are particularly vulnerable are welcome to wear masks if they so choose. He has encouraged personal care and urged everyone to practice personal hygiene such as washing hands with alcohol-based hand sanitisers whenever needed.
Source : Asthma Bhavan
Majority of them being the JN.1 variant, a subvariant of the Omicron variant. However, a few weeks ago, there were also three registered cases of the LB.1 variant which is more transmissible than JN.1
Official Data from MOH : IS THIS New Covid variant?
There was no new variant of the virus and all patients were being admitted for treatment of a mutation of the Omicron variant.
According to official data from the Ministry of Health, there were fewer than ten or even no new cases in March and April. However, the number of new cases began to rise from mid-May before jumping in June.
