Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1241994
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 APRIL 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The first case is that of a 52-year-old Englishman who resides in Malta. He reported symptoms on 20 April. Contact tracing efforts are underway with both relatives and work colleagues, as he had continued to go to work despite symp- toms. The second case is that of a 29-year- old healthcare worker who started showing symptoms on the 26 April. She had stopped working two days prior to showing symptoms, with Gauci saying no colleagues or patients were in any risk. The third case is a 32-year-old wom- an who started having symptoms on 6 April. The public health superintendent said she had refrained from getting test- ed thinking she was showing symptoms of allergies. Contact tracing efforts are underway. The remaining five cases are those of residents at the Hal Far Open Centre. The five are all men, three from Soma- lia aged 19, 23 and 20, a Nigerian aged 20 and a Sudanese aged 31. Testing As Malta reached its 30,000 swab tests threshold since the pandemic began, Charmaine Gauci was asked by Malta- Today on whether health authorities are going back to people who tested negative upon initial testing. Gauci said that the country's main point of focus in testing are symptomat- ic people, stating the rate of contagion is higher in these people. But health authorities are also con- ducting random testing to ensure that asymptomatic individuals are not left unchecked. She also insisted people do not hesitate to call 111 if they had already tested neg- ative but are feeling symptoms. 146 tests have also been conducted at the Hal Far open centre to limit an out- break within the centre. Gauci also insisted people call 111 even if they think they have allergy symptoms. "Looking at one of the cases we had today, had she reported to 111 immedi- ately, we would have caught wind of the virus sooner," she said. Health Authorities' exit strategy Asked about Malta's exit strategy, Gau- ci said authorities are still working on a "transition strategy". The public health superintendent in- sisted that an exit strategy can only be put in place once a vaccine has been cre- ated. "For now, we must ensure people con- tinue to abide by social distancing meas- ures," she said. Social distancing measures will also help in curbing the second wave, accord- ing to Gauci. Authorities working on transition strategy Coronavirus