There were 16 new Covid-19 cases recorded in the past 24-hours from 1,761 swab tests – making a 0.90% positivity rate. There were also 55 recoveries, with no new deaths registered.

Superintendent of Public Health Prof Charmaine Gauci, in her weekly update, said that in Gozo there are currently 21 active cases, down from 35 last week, with 1 recovering in hospital.

There are currently 54 people in Hospital. In Mater Dei, there are 8 patients in ITU (same as last week) 6 in IDU (down 2 on last week) with a further 22 patients across other wards of the hospital (down 3). The remaining patients are in other hospitals across Malta.

Prof Gauci said the seven-day moving average of cases per day was now 23, down from 38 last week. The positivity rate is 1.3, down from 2.1 last week.

She advised that the average age of most new cases in the last week was 20-49, the average age at death was 72.3

Imported and Households made up the largest number of cases over the last week, with 26 each followed by workplaces – 15, institutions – 10, social gatherings –  and educational – 1.

Prof Gauci said that 67% of all cases identified were with the UK variant, the same as last week. 5 South African variant cases were detected and 5 Brazilian. She confirmed that the variants are being transmitted locally and again urged everyone to keep following the preventative measures.

Prof Gauci stated that a cluster of 11 positive cases were found in a group of foreign university students living at a complex. She said that one of them has been found to have the Brazillian variant.

The 11 students do not need need hospital care, but are being kept in isolation at hospital for containment and as a “precaution,” she said.

Prof Gauci explained that by age groups: 60+ – 94% vaccinated and 50+ – 67% vaccinate and 40-49 are 42% vaccinated.

Health authorities said that active cases are now at 331 in Malta and Gozo.

The total number of cases has now reached 30,292 and there have been 29,548 recoveries and 413 deaths.

867,262 swab tests have been taken since the start of the pandemic in Malta.

331,438 doses of the vaccine have been administered up until yesterday, of which 105,628 were second doses, while 120,182 are partly vaccinated. There were 4,504 doses administered in the last 24-hours, of which 1,164 were second doses.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has advised that it will be reporting figures on a weekly basis – every Thursday. As of the 29th April, it shows that the number of cases recorded for Malta is at 30,189 and the number of deaths showing is 413. The 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is now 102.61. Malta is currently in 27th position in the EU/EEA. Cyprus is at the top with 1221.16.

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

The Ministry of Health 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: 21 active Covid-19 cases in Gozo, with 1 recovering in hospital