57 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the past 24-hours, health authorities said. This is the lowest number since the 50 reported on Christmas Day.

There were also 134 recoveries and 4 deaths, taking the total number of active cases to 2,464 in Malta and Gozo. The number of swabs taken over this period was 3,237.

Health authorities advised that during the last 24 hours 4 patients have passed away while being positive for Covid-19. Three men aged 84 and 91 and 92 at Mater Dei Hospital and an 85-year old man at St Vincent de Paule.

Superintendent of Public Health Prof Charmaine Gauci, in her weekly update, advised that transmission has slowed in the past few days following the peak after the New Year celebrations.

She said that the majority of reported cases in the past week were in the age range of 25-34. The seven-day moving average of cases per day was now 141. Prof Gauci advised that the R number is between 1 and 1.5.

There are currently 69 active cases in Gozo from the total, down from 89 last week, 8 of these patients are receiving treatment in the Gozo General Hospital, down from 11 last week.

There are 166 patients recovering in hospitals in Malta and Gozo, she said that there has been an increase in the number of seriously ill patients, with 4 more in ITU than last week and 2 more in IDU at Mater Dei.

In Malta; At Mater Dei 20 are in ITU, 8 in IDU and 44 in other wards, 8 are in Boffa, 9 in St Thomas, 14 in Karin Grech, 14 at Mount Carmel and 41 at the Good Samaritan Long-Term Care Facility.

At this time, there are 7,788 persons in quarantine across Malta and Gozo.

Prof Gauci said that Malta is genetically sequencing 5% of positive cases, in line with ECDC recommendations. There are 15 positive cases of the UK variant, 7 of which form one cluster.

Prof Gauci went on to say how important it is to maintain the health measures in place, such as mask wearing, social distancing and avoid gatherings, in order to have reduced transmission of the virus.

She remarked that so far this year authorities have seen considerably less seasonal flu cases, this, she said, is the result of the current measures in place, such as mask wearing and hand hygiene.

33,477 vaccine doses had been administered till yesterday – Thursday. Health authorities said that of these 6,457 were second doses.

The total number of cases are now at 18,442. There have been 15,701 recoveries and 277 deaths, the Ministry said. 627,607 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. As of week 3 it shows that the number of cases recorded for Malta is at 16,681 and the number of deaths showing is 253. The 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is now 472.49. Malta is currently in 11th position in the EU/EEA and UK. Portugal is at the top with 1429.43.

The ECDC said that the above data are collected between Monday and Wednesday for the proceeding week.

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 deceased, 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: 57 new Covid cases reported, 69 active cases in Gozo, with 8 in hospital