COVID-19 : the transition towards a new normal - experiences from the European country of Malta

Abstract

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global change in the way of living. In late spring, a number of Northern Hemisphere countries were in a transition period from lockdown to a new normality. Malta, a European country, praised by the Commonwealth General Secretary as the country that ‘has done the best in the whole of Europe’ was also at this stage. The aim was to summarise the transition period in Malta while describing the different transition phases and interventions adopted to return to a new normality. Subject and method: A literature search was conducted using Google search engines and Maltese online newspapers. Results: Up till 21 June 2020, a total of 665 cases were identified, with 40 cases being active and nine deaths. Eight weeks after the first reported COVID-19 case, the first transition phase with relaxation of some lockdown measures came into effect. A spike in positive cases was observed after this phase. The second and third transition phases followed suite in 2 week intervals, at the end of which all services were re-opened. However, the travel ban was to be lifted on 1 July 2020. Of note, the number of positive cases remained relatively low after the latter two transition phases. Conclusion: Malta’s COVID-19 response team managed to contain the first wave following an all-of-society and all-ofgovernment approach. The healthcare system was equippedwith an adequate number of beds and ventilators. The three transition phases instituted have shifted the Maltese population froma partial lockdown to a new normality with low fluctuating COVID-19 daily positive cases during the transition period.