5-year-old girl who died in hospital may have had Covid-19 – Fearne
• Unvaccinated people account for vast majority of new cases, Delta variant now present in community
A 5-year-old girl who died over the weekend may have had Covid-19 and the health authorities are investigating, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Tuesday.
The young girl developed a fever on Friday, before being admitted to Mater Dei Hospital on Saturday in a critical condition, where she was intubated and put on a ventilator. She however sadly passed away soon after, despite being administered CPR by medical staff.
Fearne said that she had tested negative for Covid-19 when she was swabbed on Friday, but a second Covid-19 test administered after her death as a standard procedure, when an autopsy may be needed, turned back a “mildly reactive” result.
A magistrate is now leading an inquiry in order to establish the girl’s cause of death.
Fearne said that the press conference was being held in order to quell rumours about the girl’s death which were spreading, but called on the public to respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.
He said that there are no words which can support the family of the young girl enough, but the government’s solidarity is with her family and friends.
A cousin of the young girl posted on Facebook, urging people to wait for the forensic tests before jumping to conclusions on the 5-year-old’s cause of death.
During the press conference, Fearne also answered a number of questions from the press.
He said that the vast majority of Malta’s recent Covid-19 cases remain individuals who are unvaccinated, but the Delta variant is now more prevalent at a community level in the country.
Malta registered 154 new cases of the virus on Tuesday. The Health Minister said that only 10% of the positive cases being found are vaccinated people. One person is currently receiving treatment in Mater Dei’s intensive therapy unit.
16 different English Language schools have had positive cases of Covid-19, he noted.
In the next few days, the Government and health authorities will announce more vaccine certificates of different countries which will be accepted by the Maltese authorities.
A booster shot is also being considered, Fearne said, but Malta as a country, as well as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are still studying this possibility.
“The ECDC is saying that there is no need for a booster for now. We are conducting our studies as to whether we need it or not and we have the logistics in place to give the vaccines.”
Answering questions asked by The Malta Independent, the minister remarked that the majority of the cases are under 30 years of age.
Further Covid related updates came yesterday, as the government issued a legal notice regarding travel.
Originally, the government said that from Wednesday only people with a recognised vaccine certificate will be allowed to travel to Malta. On Tuesday evening, however, a slight variation was made. The legal notice issued by the government reads that persons who arrive in Malta from any of the countries listed in the notice, which includes EU countries and the UK, without being in possession of a vaccination certificate shall be required to submit themselves to a period of quarantine in terms of article 2(1) of the Period of Quarantine Order. This refers to a 14 day period of quarantine immediately upon arrival in Malta.
In addition, persons who cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons and persons between the ages of five (5) to eleven (11) years, shall not be required to be in possession of a vaccination certificate upon their arrival in Malta from any of the countries listed, so long as upon their arrival in Malta they are in possession of a negative PCR Covid-19 test performed not longer than 72 hours before their arrival in Malta.
Earlier in the day, the health ministry had issued a statement regarding the Covid-19 jabs. People who have not yet taken the Covid-19 jab can do so without an appointment as from Monday.
They can do so at the University of Malta’s Gateway Hall and at Gozo’s Conference and Expo Centre from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 3pm.
People aged under 16 need to present an identification document and have to be accompanied by an adult to give consent.
The ministry said that a mobile vaccine unit will also start operating on Monday.
Anyone wishing to receive the vaccine at the mobile unit needs to present an ID card or any other document confirming that they are residents of Malta. This can include a utility bill, a lease agreement or a work contract.
Fearne said that the mobile vaccination clinic will be visiting the Mosta, Żejtun and St. Julians localities on 19, 21 and 24 July respectively. A full schedule will be published in the coming days.
As of now, 80% of the Maltese adult population is fully vaccinated and two thirds of the 12 to 15 year old cohort has received the first dose of the vaccine.
Fearne also announced that no appointment would be needed to get the vaccine from the mobile clinic.