Over-the-counter Covid-19 tests will not be sold in Malta, the Health Ministry has confirmed.

The Malta Independent asked the ministry if the government is considering selling Covid rapid tests in pharmacies in Malta, so that clients can purchase a test and use it privately.

In response, the ministry said that "it is not legal to sell over-the-counter tests in Malta as per Legal Notice 49 of 2021, which clearly states that self-testing devices should not be made available, put into service or performed in Malta".

In November 2020, the Medicines Authority said that over-the-counter rapid tests are not in "the best interest of public health for Covid-19" and "should be performed by a health professional". The health ministry's response to this newsroom echoes this statement.

While over-the-counter tests aren't allowed in Malta, Some other European countries do allow them. For example, they can be purchased over the counter in France and the United Kingdom; as well as pharmacies in the United States.

In Malta, rapid tests are only performed on designated premises which are certified by the Medicines Authority and only registered health care professionals or health care workers working under the supervision of a health care professional may administer a rapid test on a patient.

Rapid tests are increasingly popular in Malta for giving patients a result within a short span of time. In some cases, patients are given their result within 15 minutes of the test being performed.

Patients who receive a positive test are obliged to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Covid test, which is extremely accurate.

The ministry was also asked if the health authorities are closely following the safety procedures in private testing - particularly pharmacies - and ensuring adequate quality assurance is being carried out after concerns emerged that some health care workers supplying rapid tests were not wearing full PPE gear. Additionally, there were also concerns that patients awaiting their test results were congregating in small spaces.

The ministry, in response, said that "pharmacists/other health care professionals/workers performing point of care rapid tests are obliged to observe and abide by safety procedures including the use of PPEs while performing the test".

The daily number of Covid cases appears to be dropping as of late, with 101 cases reported on Wednesday afternoon and 90 cases reported on Tuesday afternoon. While these figures are not low by any means, they are a steady improvement from the record-breaking 510 cases reported on 10 March 2021.

Deputy Minister Chris Fearne confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the positivity rate of the virus has decreased, however this does not mean that we should ease restrictions too quickly.

"Today's figures are encouraging but we do not look at a single day on its own. The positivity rate is down again. Today it's 3.4% and that's very good, but we cannot relax just because we had a good day or a good week", he had said.