Malta hits COVID record as US warns against island travel

VALLETTA, Dec. 29 (Reuters) – Malta on Wednesday recorded a record number of COVID-19 infections as the United States added the Mediterranean island to its highest-risk travel category and urged its citizens to do not go there.

Health officials said 1,337 new COVID-19 infections had been detected, marking a record for the second day in a row. This is the fifth time in eight days that the number of new daily infections has reached a national record.

However, hospitalizations remained low with just 82 patients infected with the virus.

The US Centers for Disease Control advised against visiting Malta on Tuesday evening, placing the country at Level 4, “Very High” category, where more than 500 cases per 100,000 population have been recorded in the previous 28 days .

“Due to the current situation in Malta, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk of contracting and spreading variants of COVID-19,” the advisory reads.

The increase in infections has occurred despite a high vaccination rate, with 95% of residents of Malta having received two doses of a vaccine. The island currently vaccinates children over five years old.

Health Minister Chris Fearne also said on Tuesday that 200,000 people – out of a population of around 500,000 – had already taken the booster dose.

Business lobby groups on Wednesday urged the government to cut a two-week quarantine period for patients and those who come in contact with them, saying it has an impact on the economy.

The Times of Malta newspaper reported that at least 20,000 people were currently in quarantine, four times the population of the capital, Valletta.

Reporting by Christopher Scicluna; Editing by Nick Macfie

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