Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99288
Title: | A year of COVID-19 pandemic roller-coaster : the Malta experience, lessons learnt and the future |
Authors: | Cuschieri, Sarah Grech, Stephan Grech, Victor E. |
Keywords: | COVID-19 (Disease) -- Vaccination -- Malta COVID-19 (Disease) -- Transmission -- Malta COVID-19 (Disease) -- Prevention -- Malta COVID-19 (Disease) -- Mortality -- Malta COVID-19 (Disease) -- Malta -- Statistics COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- -- Malta |
Issue Date: | 2022 |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Citation: | Cuschieri, S., Grech, S., & Grech, V. (2022). A year of Covid-19 pandemic roller-coaster: The Malta experience, lessons learnt and the future. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 1-28. Doi: 10.1017/dmp.2022.100 |
Abstract: | Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a global impact. The study
explores the various COVID-19 experiences in Malta over the past year and provides a snapshot
of acute and post-acute COVID-19 symptoms, as well as national vaccination roll-out and
hesitancy. Methods: Data on medical access, lifestyle habits, acute and post-acute COVID-19 symptoms, and vaccination hesitancy was gathered through a social media survey targeting adults of Malta. COVID-19 data were gathered from the Malta Ministry of Health COVID-19 dashboard. Results: Malta controlled COVID-19 spread exceptionally well initially. Since August 2020, the positivity rate, mortality, and hospital admission rates saw a fluctuating incline. From COVID-19 onset, a decrease in physical activity and an increase in body weight was reported. Most participants acquiring COVID-19 were asymptomatic but nontrivial proportion experienced post-acute symptoms. The majority opted to take the COVID-19 vaccine with only a minority expressing safety concerns. Conclusions: Malta has experienced roller coaster events over a year. The population faced elevated levels of morbidity, mortality, and economic hardship along with negative and positive risk-associated behaviors. Vaccination in combination with population adherence to social distancing, mask wearing, and personal hygiene are expected to be the beacons of hope in the coming months. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99288 |
Appears in Collections: | Scholarly Works - FacM&SAna |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
A_year_of_COVID_19_pandemic_roller_coaster_the_Malta_experience_lessons_learnt_and_the_future_2022.pdf Restricted Access | 1.33 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open Request a copy |
Items in OAR@UM are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.