As things stand now, there is no need to increase measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 but it is neither the time to decrease them, Health Minister Chris Fearne said.

Addressing the media, Fearne said that the number of new cases both around the world and in Malta has been on the rise – both in community and in hospital - which has led to an increase in measures across most of Western Europe.  

The Netherlands, for example, announced a new three-week lockdown with certain restrictions on sporting activities and restaurants.  In Western Europe, many other countries have also increased restrictions as the number of Covid-19 cases has continued to rise.

In Malta, we are seeing increases in the community cases, Fearne said before adding that the seven-day moving average is 43 cases every day, and positivity rate is up to over 2%.

However, Fearne observed, nobody who has taken a third dose – the booster shot – is in hospital, showing that the booster dose is effective as intended and can prevent serious illness and possibly even death. 

All the 16 people currently in hospital have not received the booster dose, he said, and six are not vaccinated at all - equating to 40% of the total number of people in hospital. 

Fearne said that when considering that only 5% of those above the age of 12 in Malta are unvaccinated, but that 40% of those in hospital are unvaccinated, it shows that not taking the vaccine is still to be regarded as something dangerous for one's health.

The bulk of those receiving treatment in hospital are in their 70s or early 80s, although there are some people who are aged in their 60s, Fearne said.  In terms of the rest of the community, he said that many cases are reporting either light symptoms or no symptoms at all - although there have been people suffering from stronger symptoms as well.

He said that the number of people in hospital has remained stable, although called for caution as the number of people in hospital normally increases some two to three weeks after a spike in community cases.

The Health Minister said that there have been a total of 152 cases traced to schools since they were opened for this scholastic year, and said that there are currently 10 mini-clusters traced to classrooms.  He said that these mini-clusters do not exceed two to three students each, and noted that had it not been for the measure mandating the wearing of face-masks, these clusters would have likely been much larger.

Fearne said that the booster dose will have been offered to everybody over the age of 70 by the end of next week, and appealed to those who have missed their appointment for whatever reason to call 145 to arrange a new one.  Meanwhile, 40% of healthcare workers have received their booster shot, while the booster process for teachers and school staff will kick off this weekend and continue for the following three to four weekends.

A total of 25,000 people make up the cohort of healthcare workers and school staff, Fearne said.

Meanwhile, from tomorrow, people between the ages of 60 and 69 will receive an appointment for them to take their own booster shot.

He said that based on the advice of the vaccine's manufacturing companies - these being Pfizer and Moderna in Malta's case - the gap between the administration of the second and third dose of the vaccine should not be less than four weeks in the case of those who are immunosuppressed or over 70 years of age, and that it should not be less than six months for anyone else.