A ward at Mater Dei Hospital has been closed off after a patient tested positive for COVID-19, health authorities confirmed with The Malta Independent.

"A patient, who was admitted to hospital in M3 ward suffering from a separate condition unrelated to COVID-19, late this afternoon was diagnosed as asymptomatic COVID-19 positive. The patient had been screened on admission and found to be negative. Due to his history, however, the swab was repeated again today and now resulted positive", a spokesperson for the Health Ministry told this newsroom.

The patient has a connection to the recent party from where 17 cases were already linked.

"In line with MDH protocols, an extensive exercise of contact tracing has already commenced. A number of staff members have been instructed to go on quarantine. For precautionary reasons, the ward has been closed for admissions and all patients screened", the spokesperson added.

This party caused quite the steer last Thursday, when it was revealed that the positive case reported that day had attended the party, resulting in the infection of 17 other individuals that were reported throughout the week since then.

The cases include the one reported earlier on Monday; a Learning Support Educator (LSE) at the Ħal Luqa SkolaSajf summer school.

Additionally, on Friday, a ward at Mount Carmel Hospital in Ħ’Attard was closed and isolated after a healthcare worker, who had also attended the party and went to work during the week, tested positive.

There are currently 27 active cases in all at the moment, a major spike from two weeks ago when Malta was close to having zero cases.

Numerous organisations have called for the ban of mass events after the consequences of this specific party and some organisers have already started postponing their parties for the next year.

However, virologist Dr Christopher Barbara and the Chamber of Commerce agree that parties do not necessarily need to be cancelled or banned as long as protocols are abided by.