The Office of the Superintendent of Public Health has advised the public to rely exclusively on official information issued by local health authorities regarding bathing water quality and any public health risks associated with designated bathing areas.
The Superintendence for Public Health said on that the front page of the Sunday edition of the Illum newspaper featured an image, related to bathing water quality, that "does not depict any contamination source that has been identified during the investigations carried out by the competent authorities."
Resultantly, it said that "the use of such imagery may therefore create an inaccurate impression of the circumstances being investigated."
It said that the Environmental Health Directorate, which operates within the Superintendence, operates a comprehensive and evidence-based bathing water monitoring programme throughout the bathing season.
This features regular sampling and testing done in accordance with established scientific and regulatory standards to ensure that the public can safely enjoy Malta's bathing waters, it said.
The Superintendence has instructed people to consult three official sources for such information: the Environmental Health Directorate's Bathing Water Programme webpage, the Environmental Health Directorate's official Facebook page, as well as official press releases and public health advisories issued by the health authorities.
"The Health Authorities encourage the public to enjoy Malta's bathing waters during the summer months while taking sensible precautions to protect their health and by remaining informed through official channels," the Superintendence for Public Health wrote.
"Members of the public are advised not to rely on unverified reports, social media speculation, or unofficial sources that may not accurately reflect the situation on the ground."
It continued that the EHD continuously assesses bathing water quality and any potential risks to public health, and that "immediate action is taken" whenever these assessments indicate a risk to bathers.
Such "immediate action" includes the issuance of public health notices advising against bathing, the publication of official press releases, and the placement of warning signs at the affected locations, it added.
The Superintendence said that whenever contamination is identified, health authorities proceed by investigating its source and by implementing corrective actions to control and eliminate it, alongside other competent authorities. It mentioned that all affected sites are subject to ongoing monitoring and follow-up.
It assured that in cases of microbiological contamination, "the lifting of bathing restrictions and the reopening of affected bathing areas only takes place following confirmatory testing demonstrating that water quality has returned to acceptable standards and that the public health risk has been mitigated."
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Health concluded its statement by reiterating its commitment to transparency and to keeping the public informed through timely, evidence-based, and scientifically robust communications aimed at safeguarding public health.