Malta is one of only two EU countries classified as ‘very low concern’ for COVID-19
Malta is one of only two EU countries classified by the bloc’s disease agency as “of very low concern” for COVID-19, thus exacerbating the trend of infection rates. rising across Europe.
In its weekly update, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) downgraded Malta and Spain from “low-concern” to “very low-concern” countries.
The assessment is based on case numbers, positivity rate, case rates among those over 65, hospital admissions and death rates. It reflects the situation of COVID-19 from the week beginning 18 October.
Four countries – Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – are categorized as of “very high concern”.
Twelve EU countries have been classified as a “major concern”, a move that has taken place as Europe continues to face rising infections. These are Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Ten others were placed in the category of “moderate concerns” while two other member states, Italy and Sweden, were considered to be of “low concern”.
“ECDC’s assessment of each country’s epidemiological situation is based on a composite score based on the absolute value and trend of five weekly COVID-19 epidemiological indicators,” the agency said. disease control.
Malta’s case rate per 100,000 people is also the lowest, according to ECDC data for the period between 20 October and Wednesday and is 50.65. The island’s death toll, at 6.08, is the fourth lowest in Europe.
Although the country’s rates are among the best in Europe, the number of new cases has been on an upward trend in recent days, peaking at 37 infections on Thursday. The number of hospitals, on the other hand, continued to decline with only eight patients currently in Mater Dei hospital, with four in intensive care.
The growing number of COVID-19 cases in Europe was described as a “serious concern” by the World Health Organization on Thursday. The region could see another half a million deaths by the beginning of next year, he predicted.
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