New COVID-19 restrictions imposed as positive cases hit 510 in 24 hours

New COVID-19 restrictions

All measures are in addition to those already in place and will remain in effect until 11 April, 2021

• Schools to close on Monday and lessons to
• shift online
• Non-essential shops and services closed from
• today
• Elective surgery at Mater Dei Hospital has been postponed
• All ancillary services in hotels will be shut
• Gozo travel restricted to essential travel and to those who own property there
• Public group gatherings will be limited to 4 people
• All organised sport activities are suspended
• Pools, gyms, museums, theatres and cinemas will close
• No weddings can be held
• Funerals will continue being held according to existing protocols

A new set of restrictive measures aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 were announced on Wednesday as new infections hit a record 510 within a 24-hour window yesterday.

At a press conference yesterday evening, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that schools will be closed as of Monday, with teaching continuing online up through the Easter holidays.

New measures that come into effect today include the closure of all non-essential shops and services and limit group gatherings in public to a maximum of four people.

All organised sports has been stopped and pools, gyms, museums, theatres and cinemas have to close.

Travel to Gozo will be restricted to people who own property on the island and for essential travel.

Restaurants and ancillary services within hotels will also close, with guests only being able to order room service.

Non-urgent operations at Mater Dei are postponed.

The new measures will be in force until 11 April. Businesses who will have to close because of the new measures will benefit from the full government wage subsidy.

“The aim of these measures is first and foremost to ease the pressure on the health services, reduce the spread of infection and increase the rate of vaccination,” Abela said.

The UK variant of coronavirus was now the predominant virus in Malta, accounting for more than 60% of new cases. The variant was more infectious, which contributed to the surge in cases.

The press conference was also addressed by Health Minister Chris Fearne and Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci.

Fearne said that 28 patients were receiving treatment for COVID-19 at hospital’s intensive care unit (ITU).

“The appeal is for people not to congregate... this is a very difficult period for everyone but if we all pull the same rope we can come out of this,” Fearne said.

Earlier

The Opposition earlier asked for an urgent parliamentary debate on the pandemic emergency.

Responding, the Prime Minister acknowledged that people were worried and government was holding talks all day on the best possible measures.

“We were not perfect but we took decisions,” Abela said.

Opposition leader Bernard Grechasked for an urgent parliamentary debate on the COVID-19 crisis in line with Standing Orders.

The Speaker later ruled that the debate on the COVID-19 situation will be held this morning.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Justyne Caruana was also holding emergency talks with the Malta Union of Teachers after the union gave notice of industrial action.

510 cases registered

Malta registered a record 510 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, the health ministry announced on Wednesday.

Active cases stand at 3,182, after two deaths were registered.   

Two males aged 73 and 64 died at Mater Dei Hospital. 337 deaths have been registered since the start of the pandemic.

361 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 21,838. Total cases stand at 25,357.

4,423 swab tests were carried out in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of swabs to 737,897.  New cases account for 12% of the total swab tests carried out.

By Wednesday, 105,416 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered. 35,093 of those were second doses.