The fourth person to be diagnosed with Coronavirus travelled to Italy in late February, health chief Charmaine Gauci said today.
Addressing the media, she said that the man, a foreign national aged 49 who resides in Malta, travelled to Treviso on 23 February and went on to Alto Adige, returning to Malta on 27 February.
He did not self-quarantine immediately, but two days later decided to stay at home.
It was only a few days later that he developed a fever, and contacted the health authorities.
The person involved was not going to work by the time he developed the symptons, and so the risk of contagion is minimal, Gauci said. His partner had also stopped going to work by that time, and their daughter was not being sent to school.
Swab tests proved positive for Coronavirus and the man, who is a foreigner, was taken to an isolated section at Mater Dei Hospital. His partner and daughter are also in isolation, although they have no symptoms. Results of their tests will be known later today, Gauci said.
Two other people who had come into contact with the family at their home have also been placed under mandatory quarantine and are being followed up.
The authorities are expecting more cases, she said, adding that when that happens, the individuals and those who came in contact with them will be placed under quarantine. This active case finding is normal in other countries, and there is no cause for alarm, Gauci said.
Gauci added that a new testing hub will be opened today. So far, 265 tests have been carried out on people who had symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath and had visited high risk areas.
Surveillance of people suffering with pneumonia, even if they have not travelled, is also ongoing, and 369 swabs have been performed, with all tests resulting in the negative.
She appealed to those who travel to affected places, particularly to northern Italy, to self-quarantine to reduce the risk of contagion. Two other regions have been added to the self-quarantine recommendation list –Tuscany and Marche.
The public is urged to keep updated by logging on to the recently launched website – https://covid19malta.info/
Gauci said efforts are being made to help Maltese people who are currently in Italy to return to Malta. A helpline – 22042200 – has been set up for this purpose.
Asked whether upcoming mass events – like the St Patrick’s celebrations – should still take place, Gauci said this was currently being discussed and more updated will be given by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne on Tuesday afternoon.
People are also urged, she said, to avoid unnecessary contact, such as kissing and handshaking, and anyone who is sick should refrain from going to work or school. There are new ways of greeting people, such as by touching elbows. Frequent hand washing is advised.
Anyone with respiratory symptoms is being asked to be even more careful and follow these recommendations more rigorously.
Asked whether stopping Italy flights sooner could have avoided the importation of Coronavirus to Malta, Gauci said the authorities are acting according to current circumstances and people have been advised against non-essential travel to high-risk areas.
Gauci also insisted that Personal Protective Equipment being used by medical personnel is in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The clothing was shown to journalists on Monday (main photo).
The government on Monday also announced that all flights to and from Italy have been suspended until further notice, while no travel by sea will be allowed. Only cargo, food and medicine transportation will be allowed.