Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1234806
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 APRIL 2020 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS NINKORAĠĠIXXU SOĊJETÀ INTRAPRENDITORJALI FOND TA' PREMJIJIET €48,000 U NOMINAZZJONI GĦALL-KOMPETIZZJONI PRESTIĠJUŻA: PREMJU EWROPEW GĦALL-PROMOZZJONI TAL-INTRAPRIŻA 2020 MIN JISTA' JAPPLIKA? Organizazzjonijiet li jappoġġaw lill-lntrapriżi Kunsilli Lokali, Ministeri, Dipartimenti tal-Gvern, Awtoritajiet u Entitajiet Pubbliċi, Sħubijiet pubbliċi-privati, Organizazzjonijiet tan-Negozju, Organizazzjonijiet mhux Governattivi, Istituzzjonijiet Edukattivi Pubbliċi, Skejjel Pubbliċi u tal-Knisja, I-Università ta' Malta (Fakultajiet, Istituti u Dipartimenti), Trejd Unjins, Assoċjazzjonijiet tal-Professjonisti. GĦAL AKTAR INFORMAZZJONI U L-FORMOLA TAL-APPLIKAZZJONI 2569 0332 | 2569 0350 nesa.commerce@gov.mt www.commerce.gov.mt APPLIKAZZJONIJIET JINTLAQGĦU SA' Nofsinhar tal-Ġimgħa 8 ta' Mejju 2020 KARL AZZOPARDI 20 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Saturday, with health authorities stating that a total of 1,288 swabs were car- ried out in the last 24 hours. The new cases now mean that a total of 370 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been con- firmed since the outbreak start- ed. Ten of the new cases are Hal Far tent village residents, with Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci stating that they are all male. Positive cases of COVID-19 at Hal Far have been put in isolation. • Other cases include a 30-year-old Gozitan wom- an who works as a carer at the Gozo General Hospi- tal, tested positive despite having no symptoms, after widespread screening car- ried out at the hospital. • A 30-year-old Albanian woman who works as a cleaner at the Gozo Hos- pital also tested positive, after reporting a cough on 6 April. • Another 42-year-old carer, this time at Karin Grech Hospital, tested positive after reporting sneezing on 5 April. • A 32-year-old woman who works as a care worker in the community reported a runny nose on 7 April and tested positive. • A 63-year-old woman who did not work tested positive after reporting symptoms of a fever and sneezing. • A 33-year-old man, and a 31-year-old man also test- ed positive for the virus. • A 21-year-old woman who visited a Paola cash and carry store reported a runny nose before testing positive for the virus. She visited an elderly home while symptomatic, with contact tracing efforts un- derway. • A 33-year-old man who was abroad and returned to Malta on 3 March test- ed positive for COVID-19. He also visited the cash and carry store. Accord- ing to Gauci, his symp- toms worsened on 6 April. • The last confirmed case was that of the 84-year- old man who was admit- ted to hospital on Friday, and later succumbed to the disease, becoming the third COVID-19 related death. High number of positive cases among healthcare workers The large number of positive cases among healthcare work- ers could be the result of a high- er frequency of testing among them, according to the public health superintendent. She also said that the environ- ment they work in puts them at a higher risk of infection. "They are part of the community, and that means that like us, they have a chance of contracting the virus," she said. On the daily number of cases fluctuating from the high 40s to low 20s, Gauci said that such a trend is expected from smaller sized countries. "The trendline, as expected, is on the rise, but in small countries like ours, this is normal," she said. On herd immunity from the virus, Gauci said that studies are ongoing, with particular at- tention being given to how im- munity is built and how long it will last. Asked if she has any concerns regarding the Hal Far Open Centre, the public health super- intendent said that the facility has been sealed off, with the majority of residents tending to be young and healthy, therefore minimising the risk of compli- cations and death. She also said that together with Red Cross, health author- ities are carrying out regular swabbing tests. Gauci also said that migrants brought to shore on Thursday have all been tested negative for COVID-19. They have all been put into mandatory quarantine. Following the circulation of images with people on beach- es despite health authorities' warning, Gauci was asked if it was time to issue a complete lockdown in order to prevent such behaviour. "Measures be- ing rolled out are proportionate to the circumstances. But it is crucial that people cooperate." Gauci also called on people to abide by social distancing measures, insisting that people should not meet even at private households. "It is imperative that people don't go out," she said. 20 new coronavirus cases bring total up to 370 Charmaine Gauci: Malta has seen an increase in health workers and carers being afflicted by the coronavirus