New cases of COVID-19 rose to 107 on Tuesday after having dipped to 80 on Monday.

The Health Ministry said 2,919 swab tests were made in the past 24 hours. 85 patients recovered and there are now 1,915 active cases.

Earlier in the day, two more coronavirus patients died, bringing the virus death toll up to 55. 

The two patients - one a 70-year-old man and the other an 88-year-old woman - both died in hospital. 

New virus cases announced on Tuesday are still being investigated. Of Monday's cases:

  • nine were linked to family members who tested positive
  • five were contacts with work colleagues who tested positive
  • five were direct contacts with other positive cases
  • three were linked to social gatherings
  • two cases were imported. 

Doctors and nurses have warned in recent days that Malta's healthcare system risked collapse unless the strain caused by rising COVID-19 cases was brought under control.

On Tuesday, Times of Malta reported that Mater Dei Hospital was in the process of finalising plans to postpone many non-emergency surgeries, to help ease the strain on medical staff and resources.

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