COVID-19 pandemic in Malta

COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationMalta
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseValletta
Arrival date7 March 2020
(4 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 3 days)
Confirmed cases121,034[1]
Active cases136[1]
Recovered119,631[1]
Deaths
871[1]
Fatality rate0.72%
Vaccinations1,550,000
Government website
deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/health-promotion/covid-19/Pages/landing-page.aspx

The COVID-19 pandemic in Malta was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first case of the disease in Malta was an Italian 12-year-old girl on 7 March 2020. The girl and her family were in isolation, as required by those following the Maltese health authority's guidelines who were in Italy or other highly infected countries.[2] Later, both her parents were found positive as well.

A mandatory quarantine was imposed on travellers and those who were possibly in contact with those who travelled abroad. A mandatory lockdown was imposed on those over the age of 65 or those with chronic health conditions.[3] WHO praised the Maltese government's response to the pandemic,[4] before the number of cases rose to 52 on 7 April. On May Day, because the reproductive rate of the virus was below 0, the first relaxation of some measures were announced.[5]

Malta's second wave of the virus, which was more severe, began in the summer of 2020.[6]

On 12 May 2021, the Minister for Health, Chris Fearne, stated that Malta would be the first EU country to open up the vaccine to its population of over 16 years of age.[7] On 25 May 2021, Fearne announced that 70% of the Maltese population had become fully vaccinated, making it the first nation in the world to reach the minimum estimated benchmark for herd immunity against the virus.[8]

As of 31 December 2023, Malta has reported 121034 confirmed cases, 119631 recoveries and 871 deaths, while 136 cases remain active.[1]

As of 4 February 2023, a total of 1,279,922 vaccine doses have been administered.[9]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Novel Coronavirus". Ministry of Health (Malta). Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Malta's first coronavirus cases are girl and parents". Times of Malta. 7 March 2020. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. ^ "As it happened: Lockdown for 118,000 people; five new COVID-19 cases". Times of Malta. 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Coronavirus: 'An Example To Follow': WHO Europe Regional Director Gives Shout-Out To Malta's COVID-19 Measures". LovinMalta. 28 March 2020. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Establishments and activities can re-open as from Monday - Prime Minister". May 2020. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. ^ Cuschieri, S., Balzan, M., Gauci, C. et al. Mass Events Trigger Malta's Second Peak After Initial Successful Pandemic Suppression. J Community Health (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00925-6 Archived 27 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Over 16s to be offered vaccine from Monday, in EU first, Fearne says". Times of Malta. 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Malta Has Achieved Herd Immunity With COVID Shots, Says Minister". US News (Reuters). Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Malta: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". covid19.who.int. Retrieved 27 February 2023.