Live Update: Covid-19 Bulletin Malta – Saturday 11th April 2020
5022 Mins Read
Updated 1230
Prof Charmaine Gauci is expected to deliver her daily update shortly.
Twenty new cases were registered from over 1,000 swabs in the past 24 hours. Half of these concern immigrants living in Hal Far. The persons who were identified as positive were transferred into isolation.
The other cases include two women who work at Gozo General Hospital, one as a carer the other as a cleaner. The former had shown no symptoms but was identified through contact tracing. Another carer was found positive at Karin Grech Hospital.
Updated 0957
Third Covid-19 victim in Malta is 84 year old man
The Ministry of Health has confirmed an 84 year old as the third victim of Covid-19 in our country.
The man was hospitalised yesterday and passed away this morning. He suffered from other health conditions.
While expressing its condolences to the family of the victim, it urged the public to follow directives issued by authorities in order to protect the elderly and vulnerable persons.
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The number of persons infected with coronavirus has gone up to 350; yesterday 13 persons were added to this list. Although the number was not significant compared to recent increases, it was perhaps the nature of the new cases that caused most concern. New cases were identified at the Gozo Hospital, at Zammit Clapp Hospital as well as at San Vincenz de Paule Residence. These cases concern two 88-year old women who also carry previous conditions.
This concern did not seem however to worry the scores of people who spent a few hours sunbathing throughout Good Friday, despite the authorities’ appeal. Just under 60 persons were fined 100 euro for gathering in groups of four or more.
Speaking on One yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Robert Abela warned that further restrictions will be imposed next week if people continue to ignore the Authorities’ directives during the remaining two days of the weekend. “We are at war with an invisible enemy”, insisted Abela, who evidently toughened his language from a week ago.
Peak to happen in two weeks time – IHME
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, The Times of Malta, reported that the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is estimating the coronavirus peak in Malta to occur in two weeks time. It is also forecasting that 19 persons will lose their lives. The American institute worked out projections for a number of countries based on current hospital resource use.
World-renowned health data analysts believe Malta’s coronavirus peak could occur around April 22, with a total of 19 deaths to be registered by August.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), a health research centre at the University of Washington’s UW Medicine, has worked out projections for various countries by analysing hospital resource use and the number of deaths per day to be expected in the coming weeks.
The IHME said that cases in Malta will start decreasing by the first week of May.
