Five new cases, total of 156; ‘curve is still at the beginning’

Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci said yesterday afternoon that five new coronavirus cases were registered, bringing the total to 156.

The five were among the 637 swab tests that were carried out at the three hubs in Luqa, Pembroke and Gozo.

The number might give the impression that the situation is not getting worse, Gauci said when addressing the media. But she insisted that Malta is still at the “beginning of the curve”. We are expecting the number of cases to continue to rise.

She pointed out that some people tend to leave their homes between when they take the test and the result is issued. This is wrong, she said. People should stay inside as much as possible, particularly if they are experiencing symptoms.

Gauci said that five of the 156 patients are in the Infectious Diseases Unit, 17 at St Thomas Hospital and another four at the Intensive Care Unit at Mater Dei Hospital, one of whom is still intubated.

Three of the cases reported yesterday are linked to travelling, while the other two were locally transmitted. One of them is from Gozo.

Symptoms also include headaches, sore throat and a loss of sense of smell and taste.

The first case is of a Maltese man, aged 30, who returned from Mexico on 19 March and experienced symptoms on the same day. A contact tracing exercise is being carried out to check who the passengers who were seated near him on the plane are.

A 64-year-old woman returned from England on 15 March and experienced symptoms on 24 March. She had been in quarantine since her return.

A health care worker, aged 30, returned from England on 10 March and developed symptoms two days later. He had not been in quarantine at the time – there had been no directive to such effect on the day he returned – and had gone to work. A contact tracing exercise is taking place to see which colleagues and patients could have come in contact with him.

The other two cases that were reported today were linked to local transmission - two women aged 35 and 44. In the first case, she had felt the symptoms on 27 March, had not been at work and was in contact with two other relatives who so far have tested negative. In the second case, the woman developed symptoms on 22 March and a contact tracing exercise is being carried out to see who came in contact with her at her place of work.

Since today is a public holiday, Gauci urged the public to respect and obey social distancing measures, and to celebrate the holiday indoors with family. She said that vulnerable and elderly people are to stay at home, and for any individuals who might have doubts should contact the authorities on email

Gauci said that any child who requires hospitalisation because of the coronavirus will still be able to have a parent or guardian stay with them at the hospital. “If a child requires hospitalisation, the parent can remain with them at the hospital. If the parent tests negative for the virus, the adult will have to wear protective mask and clothing,” explained Gauci.

She said that in most cases, when a child has been tested positive and their symptoms are mild, they can be kept in isolation at home.

When asked whether there are any types of medication which can harm patients with the virus, Gauci explained that there have been numerous tests on medication and that there is no evidence to suggest that medication for blood pressure affects coronavirus patients. “We appeal to those individuals to continue taking their medication, because there is a risk that stopping could lead to a heart attack,” Gauci said.