Quarantine period slashed to seven days 

The period of mandatory quarantine imposed on people who come into contact with a COVID-19 positive person will decrease from 14 to seven days as of 16th August. 

This will not apply to those self-isolating because they have travelled to the country without a vaccine certificate or people who test positive, or live with someone who tests positive, for the virus. 

Those who have come in contact with a positive case, and who are themselves fully vaccinated, will be able to get tested at a special testing site once seven days have passed. They will be provided with a result on the same day and will be able to leave their home the day after. 

Delta variant detected in 95% of cases 

Giving an overview of the active cases at present, Fearne said the Delta variant made up 95% of the active cases in Malta, with the remaining 5% of cases being attributed to the gamma, or Brazilian, variant. 

Despite Malta having roughly 1,200 active cases, the number of hospitalisations stands at 34 – roughly four times lower than the last time the country had a similar number of active cases. 

This, he said, was testament to Malta’s successful vaccine roll out, noting that several European countries that were lagging behind were experiencing significant problems with their healthcare system. 

“We’re not only talking about countries we normally don’t associate with a good healthcare system,” Fearne said, adding that many countries were increasing restrictions once again. 

Malta, he said, had so far 86% of the population had been vaccinated, while 88% have received at least one dose. 

Fearne said that in the last hour an 88-year-old woman had died while positive for the virus. He had no further details. 38 people were receiving treatment in hospital, with four in intensive care, he said. 

“It is clear that those whose condition is most serious haven’t been vaccinated,” he said. Three of the four people in ITU, he said, were unvaccinated. They include an unvaccinated pregnant woman. 

Pregnant women can get vaccinated after the second trimester

Fearne also said that the government was updating its advice to pregnant women. He said that while initially, the advice was not to get vaccinated due to there not being enough information about the associated risks, it was now clear that the benefits outweigh any potential risks. 

He said that on the basis of advice by Malta College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and other experts in the field, the government was now advising all pregnant women in their second or third trimester to seek their doctor’s advice and to get vaccinated if there are no additional concerns related to their specific medical condition. 

What do you make of these updated restrictions?