Relatives of hospitalised COVID-19 patients are not allowed to make any direct visits in order to reduce the chance of spreading the virus, however, special arrangements can be made for them to be present when administrating Last Rites if the patient is nearing the end of their life.
This information comes from Health Minister Chris Fearne's answer to a parliamentary question presented by MP Godfrey Farrugia.
Farrugia asked the Minister to specify what rights relatives have when visiting a patient that was admitted to hospital because of COVID-19, whether it is in a ward or at the ITU, and what rights they have afterwards in the case that the same patient dies.
"Since COVID-19 is an infectious disease, access for relatives of patients with COVID-19 is being restricted to reduce the spread as well as for the safety of these same relatives. Relatives can make telephone contact with both the patient and their doctors," Fearne replied.
In the event of death, the patient who is identified as having died while positive for COVID-19 is placed in a special 'double body bag' to reduce the possibility of spreading which will, in turn, allow relatives to exercise the right to a worthy funeral of all respects.
Notably, the use of a double body bag as well as the added measure of sealing the deceased's tomb in plastic during the funeral has been criticised by many who see it as degrading and disrespectful to both the patient and their relatives.
In his answer, Fearne added that, in case the patient is administered Last Rites, special arrangements are made to allow relatives to visit the patient during the last moments of his or her life.
In a separate yet similar question, Farrugia also asked Fearne to explain if there is a difference between the rights that a COVID-19 patient has at Mater Dei Hospital and other uninfected patients.
The Health Minister said that the rights of patients with COVID-19 and uninfected patients have the same rights. The only differences are that COVID-19 positive patients are unable to leave their room and cannot be visited by their relatives.