One hundred and seventy two new Covid-19 cases were registered on Thursday, health authorities said.

In all, the number of cases have edged closer to 3,000 - 2,497 to be precise - as the patients who recovered totalled 65.

Since the first case was registered, Malta has recorded 33,370 Covid-19 cases, with 30,356 recoveries and 420 deaths.

The number of swab tests carried out on Thursday was 3,640, for a total of 1,061,236.

The health authorities said that of the 166 cases recorded on Thursday, 126 were people aged between 10 and 39 years.

There are now 19 patients receiving treatment in hospital, one of whom is in intensive care.

The health authorities said that 97 patients have been repatriated.

The government has been organising flights for England language students who were in Malta and were either infected or came in contact with infected people.