Deputy PM & Superintendent of Public Health to address press amid spiralling COVID cases

UPDATED:

Click here for the main highlights of the latest COVID requirements announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne and Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci.
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At 4pm, Minister Fearne and Prof Charmaine Gauci will address a press conference, as the COVID situation in Malta seems to have abruptly deteriorated this week.

The conference comes after the country recorded just short of 100 new cases of COVID, in the highest single-day figure in more than two months.

Health authorities have not yet provided a breakdown of where the cases originated, or details about those that tested positive.

On Thursday however, as Malta recorded 55 new cases, it was reported in local media that the majority of them were found in English foreign language students in the country.

According to the reports, 90 per cent of new cases are unvaccinated, with only five of the infections having received either doses of the vaccine.

Subsequently, it was reported that the Health Ministry is now planning to offer vaccines on arrival for long term English language students arriving in the country.

Malta's health community has waded into the event on Friday morning, as the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) accused authorities of "amateurism and a lack of foresight", for their tourism policies.

“The same mistakes done last year are being repeated, by opening Malta to tourist brackets characterised by unruly behaviour with high transmission and low vaccination rates”, claimed Martin Balzan, Head of MAM.