The recent, record spike in Covid-19 cases that has enveloped Malta over the Christmas period is difficult to ignore.

With over 900 cases found for two straight days, and over 4,000 cases reported across the whole of Christmas week, equating to a seven-day average of 586 cases in that period, it is quite clear that the Omicron variant of the virus has firmly taken hold of the pandemic situation in the country.

It’s true that Health Minister Chris Fearne said that only two cases of the variant had been found, but one must keep in mind – as Fearne mentioned – that those results are from genetic tests taken some six days prior.

It is reasonable to conclude therefore that the vast majority of the cases we are currently seeing is down to this highly transmissible variant – a conclusion backed by statements by Fearne and Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci themselves.

It was quite obvious, as a result, that some form of new measures had to follow, which in fact they did.

The measures which were put into place in the short-term – restricting events to being seated, particularly – were much needed and well-balanced. 

Making entry into a number of establishments only possible if one has received a booster vaccine dose is a step further than the restrictions which were previously in place.  Vaccination was mandatory for anyone wanting to attend a mass event, but otherwise people could go where they pleased assuming the establishment in question didn’t have any of their own restrictions.

From 17 January though, a booster dose is required in order for one to enter establishments such as restaurants, bars, gyms, sporting events, theatres, and a host of others.

The aim behind such a measure by authorities is quite obvious: to get as many people as possible to take a booster dose.

Let’s be clear: the vaccine is the solution to this pandemic.  The fact that the number of cases being found is now at record levels does not detract from this. 

One comment on our website, along with many others on social media, made the illogical argument that because case numbers were at record highs, then it’s clear that the vaccine wasn’t working.

All one has to do is look back to last March, when Malta was last going through a massive spike in cases.  On the day that the previous record of 510 cases was reported, there were five whole Intensive Therapy Units in operation.  Today, there are just four people in ITU.

The very fact that hospital numbers – particularly the number of people in intensive care – have remained at a low number compared to back then is clear that the vaccine and the booster is working.

Taking a booster dose for a vaccine is not a new concept. The influenza vaccine, which is taken every year, is an extremely well-known example of that.

What’s for sure is that we simply have to learn to live with Covid-19, and the vaccine is a part of that.  It is good that the authorities have taken an approach that avoids draconian measures, but the only way that such draconian measures will be avoided is, now, by relying on the booster shot.