Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1333591
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 JANUARY 2021 NEWS COVID-19 KARL AZZOPARDI GOVERNMENT will be an- nouncing new mitigation meas- ures for the month of February as it moves to curb the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Robert Abela said. However, he ruled out a lock- down or curfews. Questioned on how govern- ment plans to prevent a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases after the carnival school holidays, Abela said government plans to introduce new measures in the coming days. A number of associations have called for government to introduce new measures, with some even suggesting a week- end curfew to prevent an in- crease in positive cases. "We have to ensure that measures cater for the carni- val period, while ensuring that we don't have a spike in cases. Where possible we have to re- duce the infection rate," Abela said. He stressed that no lockdown or curfew will be introduced but said that bars and clubs will remain shut throughout the month of February. Abela made reference to pro- tests in the Netherlands in response to a curfew imple- mented to combat the spread of coronavirus throughout the country. "What we are seeing in Hol- land justifies government's de- cision in not imposing a lock- down or curfew," Abela said. COVID-19: New restrictive measures imminent but no lockdown or curfew Prime Minister Robert Abela says bars and social clubs will remain closed NICOLE MEILAK MALTA has registered 138 new cases of COVID-19 and 128 recoveries yesterday, the health authorities said. This led to an increase in active cases to 2,640. The two new deaths involved an 80-year-old woman and an 88-year-old man. Both passed away at Mater Dei Hospital while positive for COVID-19. To date, Malta has registered 16,999 total cases of the virus since March, 14,104 of which have recovered. In total, 255 COVID-related deaths have been recorded. Yesterday, 3,248 swab tests were carried out. Since the start of the outbreak, the health authorities conducted 596,138 tests. Up until Monday, 21,172 doses of the COVID vaccine have been administered, of which 1,463 were second doses. Malta registers 138 new cases of coronavirus and two deaths Chris Fearne and Stephen Spiteri get COVID-19 jab HEALTH minister Chris Fearne and Opposition shadow spokesper- son Stephen Spiteri were adminis- tered the COVID-19 vaccine at the Paola health centre on Tuesday. In a show of unity both called on people to "believe in science not superstition" and take the vaccine when this is offered to them. "Science not superstition will beat this pandemic," Fearne said in a short message after receiving the jab on his left arm. Up until Monday, 21,172 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Malta, including second doses. There were 1,463 people vaccinated with both doses. Fearne said that pharmacists working in the community will be next in line to receive the vaccine and from next week, people aged 80 and over living in the community will start receiving an appointment to get vaccinated. Spiteri said the success of the in- oculation programme depends on the roll out of the vaccine and its uptake by people. He urged people to take the vaccine. Opposition spokesman Stephen Spiteri (left) with Deputy Prime MInister Chris Fearne as they were administered the COVID-19 vaccination