Updated Friday 9.30am, adds government statement

A 78-year-old woman died of COVID-19 on Thursday, making her the third victim of the virus in 24 hours. 

Times of Malta is informed the woman had twice tested negative for the virus before she died late Thursday morning. 

No official announcement on the 28th virus fatality has yet been made. 

Two elderly people, who were residents at care homes, died on Wednesday night after testing positive for COVID-19.

The 91-year-old man and 73-year-old woman both died on Wednesday night.

Malta has now the third-highest death rate per 100,000 people in the EU, according to a list updated on Thursday by the European Centre of Disease Control.

Government statement

In a statement on Friday, the government said the woman was initially confirmed positive on August 11 and negative on August 28 and September 9.

On Thursday, she was taken to Mater Dei's emergency department from Mount Carmel Hospital and died while still in emergency. A swab test at the department confirmed her positive to COVID-19.

She had underlying health conditions, the ministry said as it offered his family members condolences.
 
The Health Ministry said contact tracing was under way at Mount Carmel and all people who were in contact with the victim are being tested.