Six new cases of Covid-19 were found as five people recovered from the virus on Friday.
It means that Malta currently has 66 active cases of the virus.
Addressing her weekly briefing, health chief Charmaine Gauci said 2,288 swab tests were carried out on Thursday, taking the total up to 920,753 so far.
Meanwhile, a total of 505,100 doses of the vaccine had been administered up till Thursday. 314,030 of those were first doses, while 200,199 people are now fully vaccinated.
Malta has had 30,526 cases of the virus. 30,041 of those have recovered, while 419 have died.
Prof Gauci started off with the successful vaccination process which now reached more than half a million administered vaccine. She insisted that everyone should continue to get vaccinated as this is the best factor helping numbers to go down.
Currently 96% of people over 60s are vaccinated; over 50's - 79%; over 40s - 73%; over 30s - 62% and from those between 16 and 29 years there are already 42% vaccinated.
All those who did not register for their vaccine till now should immediately do so on www.vaccin.gov.mt or send an SMS with his or her ID Card number on 99180045 (Malta) or 99180044(Gozo).
The 7-day moving average is now at 4 cases and there are only 3 COVID-19 patients at Mater Dei Hospital. Out of these only 1 patient is in ITU.
After WHO directives, the Health Authorities will not refer to variants with country's names but by codes. In fact in Malta we have 47% of the B117 variant, 0.7% of B1351 variant, 3.7% of P1 variant and we have no cases of 1617 variant.
Professor Gauci reminded everyone that even though case numbers are down everyone shall all be vigilant and continue following the health measures and directives such as keeping the mask on, washing and sanitizing of hands and keeping social distance.
She said that if the situation remains as is by July any fully vaccinated persons can remove masks, but if the group will be bigger than two persons, than everyone has to wear the mask again.
This newsroom asked about cases where there would be certain misunderstandings regarding which vaccines people were given. This after this newsroom was informed that a number of people were given a particular brand for their first dose, and a different brand for their second. Gauci said that the vaccine provided is according to the place and time they are given.
Regarding imported cases, which has once again been the leading cohort of new cases, the Health Superintendent said that the country has a lot of measures in place to ensure that there would not be an influx of such cases, even when the country opens up for tourism again on 1 June.
She said that it is rare that people end up being positive for the virus after being fully vaccinated, and if one does, they “are usually asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms.”
Professor Gauci said that since the vaccination program is going well and cases are stable, the country can continue looking at “opening slowly” by easing measures, including events.
“We are holding various discussions to see how, when the time comes, certain events that are limited would be able to take place. However, these will be announced at a later stage, as we have to remember we are moving at a very cautious pace which would not be risking the good situation that we find ourselves in,” Gauci remarked.
What these events will be are still “being discussed with stakeholders”, she said.
Gauci observed that even when compared to Europe and the 14-day case average, we have one of the “lowest rates in Europe”, with Iceland being having a slightly lower rate than us.
Given that from 1 July, individuals or groups of two people who are fully vaccinated can remove their masks in public, the Health Superintendent said that enforcement will take place via the vaccine certificate and identity card.
“The appeal right now is: Come and get vaccinated so that you have protection and immunity, and if you would need the vaccine certificate for these events you would have it,” Gauci stated.