Fourteen new COVID-19 cases have been registered in Malta over the past 24 hours with five linked to the Paceville entertainment district, health authorities said on Monday. 

It brings the number of active cases in the country to 199.

The numbers are part of a trend of double-digit new cases figures over the last days, with 15 reported on Sunday, 21 on Saturday and 10 on Friday. 

The Health Ministry said the 14 new cases were confirmed from 1,438 tests - a relatively high number for a Sunday. 

After cases spiked, demand from people to be tested for coronavirus increased, leading to a waiting list for tests. Some people, including those with COVID-19 symptoms, have reported waiting up to 12 days for an appointment to be swabbed.

Five of the new cases are related to a cluster in Paceville and three are family members of previously known cases. The rest are sporadic, meaning they have no known contact with a coronavirus patient.

It is understood none of the new cases are newly-arrived migrants. 

Most of the new patients did not go to work when symptomatic, the health authorities said. 

Malta's relatively high number of cases have threatened tourism in the country, with Lithuania reportedly banning flights from Malta, and Latvia bringing in quarantine restrictions for travellers. There are also reports in the Irish media that authorities there are considering similar measures. 

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