An 84-year-old Maltese man is the third person to die of COVID-19 in Malta, the Health Ministry has announced.

The man, who suffered from unnamed previous conditions, tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday upon arrival to Mater Dei Hospital. He went to the hospital after experiencing shortness of breath.

His condition worsened while at the hospital before succumbing to the virus earlier this morning.

Speaking during an update on COVID-19 cases in Malta, Superintendent for Public Health Charmaine Gauci once again urged the public to observe social distancing, stressing that the illness could be fatal for the most vulnerable in society.