‘No need’ to reintroduce COVID restrictions says Deputy PM, as vaccine schedule accelerated

Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister, Chris Fearne, has insisted that there are currently no plans to introduce further COVID restrictions, despite rising cases.

Mr Fearne made the comments on Wednesday, at a press conference inaugurating a new 112 call centre.

He stated that while COVID case numbers are increasing, the number of patients in hospital and ITU with the virus is stable, and as such the Government is “not seeing the need to introduce more restrictions.”

He also revealed that the country’s vaccination schedule will be accelerated, with children aged between five and 11 expected to be eligible to be vaccinated from mid-December.

This relies on the jab being approved by the European Medicines Authority (EMA), which is expected to take place this week, according to the Minister.

The vaccination for children is different from those given to adults, and arrangements are said to be in place for quantities to be brought over to Malta in the coming weeks for them to be administered from mid-December.

Regarding booster doses, over 60s are currently being given the dose, while all those aged 50 and over are able to register their interest to receive the dose.