Malta has recorded 55 new COVID-19 cases and one more death, continuing a trend of double-digit infections.

There are now 554 active cases as 45 patients recovered overnight. 

A 76-year-old man died at Mater Dei Hospital while positive for the virus, bringing Malta's number of COVID-19 deaths to 401.

Thursday's new cases were found from 2,227 swab tests taken over the previous 24 hours.

It is the 13th consecutive day that the number of new cases remained in double digits. 

There are now 554 active cases with 45 patients recovering overnight. 

The government announced a lockdown exit plan on Wednesday, with a staggered reopening of schools beginning Monday, with non-essential shops and services to reopen on April 26. 

A total of 227,606 vaccine doses have been administered so far, with 63,114 of those being second doses. 

The European Medicines Agency said on Wednesday that blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine but that the jab's benefits continue to outweigh the risks.

However, there have been no cases of blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca  vaccine in Malta and the Maltese health authorities are continuing with their plan of administering the AstraZeneca to anyone under 70.

Besides the AstraZeneca vaccine, Malta is also administering jabs produced by Pfizer and Moderna.

More than 99 per cent of those given a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine developed immunity against the virus and did not get infected after receiving the jab.

To report breaches of COVID-19 public health regulations, call 21224001 

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