Malta has registered a record number of COVID 19 positive cases in the last 24 hours since the first case was registered a month ago. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Chris Fearne confirmed 52 new coronavirus cases. 4 of the new cases are Gozitans and most of the rest are Maltese. This brings the total to 293 confirmed cases in Malta and Gozo.
Minister Fearne said that the health authorities were not taken by surprise and were expecting such a large number of confirmed new cases in just 24 hours. He declared that the Maltese government is not planning any total lockdown but reiterated that people who do not need to go out are encouraged to stay safe at home. The deputy Prime Minister appealed to employers to implement teleworking in order to reduce the possibility of coronavirus contact.
The press conference was also addressed by the Superintendent of Public Health, Professor Charmaine Gauci who gave the details of the new COVID-19 cases. 39 of the new cases; 37 are Maltese, 3 from Gozo and 2 foreign nationals residing in Malta. 12 other news cases were confirmed today before noon; 9 Maltese, 1 Gozitan, 2 Indians and a man from Somalia who lives in the community.
She said that the drastic increase in positive cases of coronavirus could be a result of an increase in medical tests being carried out by the local health authorities. He urged the public to reach out to medical professionals if they feel symptoms similar to those of COVID 19.
(ITALPRESS/MNA)
