Malta will offer Covid-19 booster shots to everyone aged 12 and over, Health Minister Chris Fearne has announced.

Speaking in a press conference on Friday, Fearne said that the decision has been taken to give the booster shot to everyone – although the exact timeline is yet to be specified.

56,585 booster shots have already been administered as per the latest health authority update on the Covid-19 situation, with over 70s being the first target of the roll-out.

Teachers and healthcare workers will be able to start getting their booster shot from Monday, while those over 60 will be able to start getting their booster on 6 December.

Fearne announced on Friday that those who are over 45 will be invited to take the jab from the first week of the New Year.

Malta reported 40 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday – the highest tally since 14 September, when 50 cases were reported.

Though many other European countries have started increasing restrictions due to a high spike in cases, Fearne said that seeing as Malta has the highest rate of vaccination in the world and the cases in the country are low, especially with regards to hospital admittance, no plans to increase restrictions were in place as long as the numbers remain stable.

“Right now is the time to monitor the situation and while we will not be adding any measures, we will also not be removing any," he said.

There were currently nine positive cases at Mater Dei and three patients in the ITU.

Fearne said that no Delta plus variant cases have been recorded in Malta as of yet and that the Delta variant continues to be the most prevalent across the island, adding that the current vaccines till now have also been deemed effective for the Delta plus variant.

There are three main Covid-19 clusters, two from workplaces with 25 cases and eight cases and a small cluster of six cases at a childcare centre.

Fearne stressed that the results show that offices are "risky" and that the mandatory mask-wearing measure in offices remains crucial.

No current clusters have been recorded from any pilot or standing event.

First dose vaccinations for the 5 to 11 age group are still on hold as EMA await results from the regulatory body which should arrive before the end of the year.

Fearne noted that 56,585 doses of the booster vaccine have been administered to those aged 70 and over, equivalent to 75% of the age cohort and invited everyone to come forward for their dose.