Charmaine Gauci suggests prospects are good for no return of COVID restrictions

Superintendent of public health Charmaine Gauci has suggested that a return of COVID-related restrictive measures is unlikely at this stage, when asked on the last episode of The Times of Malta’s Ask Charmaine online programme.

“We do not know what will happen, but the World Health Organisation is predicting that new variants of the virus are milder, can be handled, and do not escape immunity. So, the prospects of continuing to live a normal life are very good, as long as we exercise caution, especially for the vulnerable” she said.

Very few restrictions remain in place at this stage, such as the need for PCR or rapid COVID tests when entering the country, or a valid vaccine certificate. Asked when Malta will be removing all travel related measures, she could not say.

Prof Gauci sounded upbeat, commenting that it is “very nice” to see that people are returning to their normal lives, with the situation remaining stable.

She revealed that the positivity rate has gone down from a peak of 21 per cent to 8.3 per cent. In hospital 46 patients are positive with the virus, but 57 per cent were admitted for other reasons.

Prof Gauci credited the high vaccine uptake, the Maltese population’s immunity and the weakening of variants as keeping the situation stable.