191 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the past 24-hours, the Health Authorities said. There were also 77 recoveries and 2 deaths, taking the total number of active cases back over 2,000 at 2,047. The number of swabs taken over this period was 3,639.

Superintendent of Public Health Prof Charmaine Gauci, in her her weekly briefing, said that the 2 deaths of patients with Covid-19 were an 84-year old woman who passed tested positive for the virus on Christmas Day and passed away yesterday at Mater Dei Hospital and a 77-year old woman, who tested positive on the 10th of December and passed away at the St Vincent de Paule Residence today.

In Gozo, out of the total cases, there are currently 114 active cases, of which 10 are in the Gozo General Hospital.

She said that 162 people are in hospital, in Mater Dei there are 13 in ITU and 8 in IDU, while 34 are in other wards of the hospital. 68 are in the Good Samaritan Long-Term Care Facility, 14 are in Boffa, 11 are in St. Thomas, 3 are in Mount Carmel Hospital, and is at Karin Grech.

The moving average number of cases is currently 143 per day, the average age is 40.

Prof Gauci explained that “as expected” the number of positive cases have increased following the festive holidays, saying that the number of cases could decrease next week, once the impact of these holidays is over. Authorities have not seen an increase in seasonal flu cases, she said.

The total number of cases are now up to 13,967. There have been 11,690 recoveries and 230 deaths, the Ministry said. 536,668 swab tests have been taken since the start of the pandemic in Malta.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has advised that it will be reporting figures on a weekly basis – every Thursday. The latest figures as of week 53, show that the number of cases recorded for Malta is at 13,082 and the number of deaths showing is 220. The 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is 277.17 Malta is currently in 21st position in the EU/EEA and UK. Lithuania is at the top with 1199.28.

Public Health Authorities said that anyone who needs to take a test should call 111 to set an appointment, even if they do not have any symptoms. It is to be noted that due to the large volume of calls, it can take some time to get through.

All swabbing centres are open every day, including the one in Gozo, however appointments must be made on the above number.

The Ministry of Health, while offering its condolences to the relatives of the families who have passed away, called on the public to continue to follow the preventive measures so that we can protect the most vulnerable in our society – This includes wearing of masks, social distancing and hand hygiene.

Permalink: 191 new Covid-19 cases, 114 active cases in Gozo, 10 in hospital