Mater Dei hospital has been forced to open up a third COVID-19 intensive care unit, bringing the total number of ITUs to five as healthcare workers grapple with the influx of infected patients needing critical care.
It comes after the Association of Anaethetists warned, in a statement backed by 12 medical professional groups, that Malta s intensive care resources could be completely exhausted within days, if not hours .
Times of Malta can confirm the unit started to be used on Tuesday afternoon, with sources saying this had been expected since the number of critical patients continued to spike in recent days. This was one of the direct impacts of the rise in cases in the community.
Public health association says country risks blacklisting if COVID cases are not curbed
The Malta Association of Public Health Medicine welcomes new measures, says they must be complimented by effective enforcement
7 March 2021, 10:12am
by Karl Azzopardi
The Malta Association of Public Health Medicine has welcomed the introduction of new restrictive measures, but has insisted on better enforcement.
“it is imperative that such measures are complemented by effective enforcement, in a bid to improve on the evident societal complacency,” a statement read.
The association said that at this phase during the pandemic, where the vaccine roll out is still at its early stages, and spread of the virus is really high, a final effort is needed to curb infections.
Health associations call for evidence-based evaluation of measures timesofmalta.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesofmalta.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated 11.52am with trade unions' statement  -
Restrictive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 need to be increased immediately, the Malta Associatio
Robert Abela has ruled out the possibility of an imminent lockdown in Malta to fight the surge in COVID-19 cases, describing it as a "draconian measure".
The p