Update : A Maltese man has been confirmed as the sixth Coronavirus CoVid-19 case in Malta. The ma was tested postive and he got the virus after being abroad in the Northern part of Italy. The man, is reported to be in good health. According to a statement issued by the Health Ministry, the man followed the instructions and stayed in self-quarantine and did not go to work. The Maltese government re-appealed for calmness and there’s no need for panic as he contracted the CoVid-19 while in Italy.
Earlier:
As news of a fifth COVID-19 case was confirmed by the authorities yesterday afternoon – the 16 year-old daughter of a foreign man tested positive the day before – Prime Minister Robert Abela announced a series of limitations on public events, leading to the cancellation of a number of popular activities.
While urging for calm, Abela declared that mass outdoor events would be limited to a maximum of 2,000 people, while indoor events were capped at 750. Within a few hours, public announcements by the respective organisations confirmed the cancellation of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in St. Julian’s, the external feast of St Joseph in Rabat and the traditional pilgrimage with the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
In an apparent change of track, Government also indicated that despite no mandatory quarantine being imposed, all people returning from Italy, or who returned over the past week, including from Sicily, had to self-quarantine.
PM Abela insisted that schools were to remain open with Health czar Prof Charmaine Gauci confirming that the collection of students from their educational institutions was not justified. Meanwhile, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced in Parliament that the authorities were preparing a further 180 beds – covering the worst-case scenario considered by Government – that of around 300 cases.
Meanwhile, the Malta Employers Association insisted that all employees travelling to high risk zones should spend 14 days in quarantine in interest of co-workers. It also declared that unless employees had travelled on work-related business, the period of quarantine should not be paid by the employer, except where the employees worked from home.
From its end, the Chamber of Pharmacists, advised its members to protect themselves from the coronavirus by ensuring that patients keep a one-metre distance from the pharmacy counter.
