There has been 2 new Covid-19 case recorded in the past 24-hours, from 1,817 swab tests, making a positivity rate of 0.11. There were 5 recoveries and no new deaths registered.
In a joint press conference with Health Minister Chris Fearne, Culture Minister Jose Herrera and Superintendent of Public Health Prof Charmaine Gauci, the Health Minister advised that as from the 5th of July, there will the cautious and controlled opening of cultural events for those who hold a vaccine certificate.
These will be seated events for up to 100, with 1 person allowed for every 4 square metres. the numbers will increase every two weeks – to 150 and then 200, providing the number of infections remain low.
Full risk assessment forms issued by the MTA will have to be completed by the organisers before each event. Dr Fearne advised that the type of events permitted will relate to village feast, art, cultural and social activities. No events can be held in residential properties, either owned or rented.
The event organisers will have to keep records of those attending and of the seating arrangements at the venue, this is in the event of a positive case emerging.
It was explained that any events must be held in an “enclosed space” with the venue either indoors with a controlled entry, or an enclosed fenced in outdoors area. Every venue must have a controlled entry point for the checking of vaccine certificate documentation.
For outdoor events, there must be a distance of between five and ten metres outside the entrances so as not to have overcrowding.
There is a ban on intermissions, breaks and buffets. Smoking will also not be allowed. No standing will be permitted and any food served must be provided at the table. Masks must be worn at all times during the event apart from when seated or eating food.
Superintendent of Public Health Prof Charmaine Gauci, speaking about the gradual and careful opening of events, explained that some these will be the highest on the risk assessment, and is why only those with a vaccine certificate will be able to attend.
She explained that both workers and people attending the activities, who are over 12 years old must present the vaccine certificate to attend these events. . Children between the ages of 5 and 11 will be asked to submit a rapid test performed in the last 24 hours or a PCR test performed in the last 72 hours. Children under the age of 5 can attend the activities without a swab test if the parents are in possession of the vaccine certificate.
She said that the positivity rate is 0.2 and the 7-day moving average is currently 3.
Prof Gauci went on to say that as the situation is now “stable” she would no longer for the time being be giving the weekly Friday updates.
Active cases are now at 64 in Malta and Gozo. The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic in Malta is 30,579 and there have been 30,096 recoveries and 419 deaths.
949,582 swab tests have been taken since the start of the pandemic in Malta.
576,256 doses of the vaccine have been administered up until yesterday. 251,553 are now fully vaccinated, while 73,150 are partly vaccinated.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control [1] has advised that it will be reporting figures on a weekly basis – every Thursday. As of the 10th of June, it shows that the number of cases recorded for Malta is at 30,571 and the number of deaths showing is 419. The 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 is now 12.63, the lowest in the EU.
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.