The COVID-19 vaccination programme at homes for the elderly has been concluded, the Minister for the Elderly said on Friday.
Speaking during a visit to the Dar Madonna tal-Isperanza home in Mosta, Michael Farrugia said more than 3,700 residents and 2,800 employees in 39 homes had been given two doses of the vaccine.
The process started on January 7. They started receiving their second dose on January 29.
By Friday, a total 89,946 vaccine doses had been administered, 31,034 of which are second jabs. The announcement comes a day after Malta reported record COVID-19 cases.
Superintendent of Health Charmaine Gauci announced a change to the vaccination programme in her weekly news conference on Friday saying that people aged over 60 will now start receiving invites to be vaccinated, as Malta approved AstraZeneca for those aged up to 70.
New COVID-19 cases reached a national high on Friday, with 258 people testing positive for the virus between Thursday and Friday.
The previous record was more
A total 185 new COVID-19 cases were recorded between Thursday and Friday, as another three virus patients died.
The three victims were an 85-year-old man who died at Mater Dei Hospital, an 88-year-old man who died at the Good Samaritan Long Term Facility, and a 97-year-old woman who died at St Vincent de Paul.
Their deaths bring the number of people who died while infected with COVID-19 to 264.
Statistics released by the health ministry also showed that 174 people recovered overnight, meaning there were 2,695 active cases of COVID-19 in Malta as of 12.30pm on Friday.
The 185 new cases were detected from 3,280 swab tests, resulting in a positivity rate of 5.6%.
A total of 193 new COVID-19 cases were detected between Thursday and Friday and one patient died, according to figures released by the health authorities.
The
Last updated 8.45pm with MUT saying meeting with government was inconclusive
Scenes of confusion met the few pupils who turned up at government schools on Thur