One month since Malta reported its first COVID-19 case, we have seen a spike in the number of patients with 52 people testing positive overnight.

A final word from an ITU nurse

2.45pm We are closing off this blog for today with a few lines together with a picture sent to us by ITU nurse Charmaine Sciberras Cauchi. She said she wanted to sent it on behalf of her work colleagues who work in the health sector especially at ITU:

ITU - I Trust U

It’s worse than a war.

These professionals are continuously saving lives.

Do your part, so as not to put their lives and their families at risk.

Unless we are all on board... we cannot keep the curve low.

Less asthma attacks reported

2.15pm The environment has probably been the biggest beneficiary of the COVID-19 outbreak. We recently reported that air pollution in Malta went down 70 per cent in one month. Now we are hearing of a drop in severe asthma attacks, probably a result of social distancing, the closure of schools and cleaner air.

Read Kristina Abela's story here.

Updates from around the world

2pm Spain has reported a slight increase in the daily death toll of coronavirus for the first time in five days, with 743 people succumbing overnight.

No 10 says UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been "stable" overnight & remains "in good spirits". He's still in intensive care and receiving "standard oxygen treatment" but is not on a ventilator and does not have pneumonia;

The Paris authorities in France have banned daytime jogging in a bid to reduce contact between people and help slow the spread of the virus.

A key forecasting model used by the White House in the US to chart the coronavirus pandemic has revised its estimates downward;

Stock markets rise on hopes the spread of coronavirus is starting to slow.

Flowers are delivered to 10 Downing Street, the office of the British prime minister. Photo: AFP

Manufacturer to the rescue

1.45pm Local manufacturer Bortex Group said its local production facility will be used to manufacture medical protective equipment such as face masks and scrubs for Malta’s COVID-19 frontliners.

"Private companies who require the production of protective equipment for their staff, including face masks and medical scrubs," it said in a Facebook post.

Another Man Utd legend sends Malta a message

1.25pm Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in the history of the English Premier League, has just uploaded a video urging everyone in Malta to stay safe at home to ensure everyone comes through these challenging times.

Giggs and former England and Man Utd captain Gary Neville have had a long-standing link with Malta.

Where do the patients live?

1.20pm The health authorities have yet to release data on where patients who contracted the coronavirus live. Initially citing data protection as a reason for not giving this information, Gauci told Times of Malta earlier on Tuesday that data on patients' whereabouts is being compiled. The information should be published "soon".

While she did not give any details on hotspots, Gauci confirmed there are certain localities where the number of reported cases is higher.

'Save my daddy'

1.02pm Around the world, the rainbow has been adopted as a symbol of hope and support to healthcare workers battling coronavirus. Matthew Mirabelli sent this picture of posters created by some children and pasted to the window.

One of the posters has a very important message: "If you think you have COVID-19 call 111 to save my daddy and aunty and other doctors and pharmacists."

Posters urging people to abide by the rules to help contain the spread of coronavirus. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Stop the scapegoating

12.40pm COVID-19 doesn't discriminate between skin colour or nationality. The authorities have repeatedly urged the public to desist from racist statements and stereotyping, especially after the Ħal Far open centre was put under lockdown in the wake of eight residents being diagnosed with coronavirus.

Yet, we are receiving several reports of racist comments posted on social media platforms. Clearly, the warnings are falling on deaf ears.

You can read Times of Malta's editorial on Tuesday on this very same subject here.

Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Msida in lockdown

12.30pm A number of localities are doing their utmost to dissuade people from gathering in groups.

Our photographer Mark Zammit Cordina took these pictures of popular meeting spots in Msida cordoned off on Tuesday morning.

Another UK Cabinet member self-isolating

12.20pm UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove is self-isolating, according to news reports. A member of his family is displaying symptoms of the coronavirus.

The news emerges hours after Boris Johnson was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital with "persistent symptoms" on Sunday and moved to intensive care on Monday.

Rescue ship hunts for port amid virus lockdown

12pm German NGO Sea Eye is seeking a safe port on Tuesday after it saved 150 people from small boats in distress off the Libyan coast.

The vessel pulled 68 people from the Mediterranean on Monday morning before picking up dozens more later, the group said in a statement.

Italy and Malta "made is clear to the (German) foreign ministry that they would not agree to rescued people disembarking" even if there was an agreement to share them out among EU member states.

The NGO nevertheless appealed to Berlin to help it organise transport for the 150 migrants to Germany.

Underlining the risks it took to save the migrants, Sea Eye said crew of a boat flying the Libyan flag had fired shots in the air during the rescue.

Difficult to establish trend of new cases

11.40am Minister says there is no plan for a total lockdown, but urged the public to abide by the health directives being given, if the numbers are to be controlled.

Health superintendent Charmaine Gauci says there is no clear pattern in the new cases diagnosed. The spike in numbers could be a result of the major increase in tests being carried out.

She urged the public to go and get tested even if they feel mild symptoms.

Fearne sounds a warning about the use of face masks since there were conflicting studies about their effectiveness. However, he stresses that the health authorities will urge the public to wear them should the world health organisation suggest the use of specific masks.

One woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 was living in an old people's home. But Gauci says strict measures have been taken in old people's homes to ensure there is no spread.

Claire Caruana will have the full report here

52 new cases, minister 'not surprised'

11.05am Minister says there are 52 new cases of COVID-19 in Malta, 48 in Malta and four in Gozo, bringing the total to 293 since the first case was reported a month ago.

"We were expecting these figures last week. This is in keeping with what we were predicting," Fearne tells a news conference.

Soldiers keep guard at the Ħal Far migrants centre. Photo: Matthew MIrabelli

He says the new cases are not related to the Ħal Far open centre, which has been put under lockdown after eight residents were diagnosed with COVID-19.

A total of 825 tests were carried out on Monday. Five patients have recovered.

Japan declares state of emergency

10.50am Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday declared a month-long state of emergency, designating seven prefectures, including Tokyo, as areas of concern as the country steps up efforts to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.

EU: 'A strong package in the making'

10.40am As practically all EU states struggle to tackle the economic fallout, EU Council and Commission chiefs released a statement on Monday that said a "strong package is in the making", and Eurozone finance ministers will hold a teleconference later on Tuesday.

A news conference is expected around 6pm CET.

Airlines sound emergency button

10.22am The stakeholder associations representing Europe’s aviation industry have united in calling on the EU institutions and member states to provide quick and targeted support to an industry that has come to a complete halt and is struggling to survive the COVID-19 crisis.

In Malta, cabin crew at Air Malta are resisting a proposal that they say would see full-time jobs guaranteed for just 28 days on a pay of €1,200.

Read Jacob Borg's story here.

Malta International Airport.

Malta-bound medical suits ransacked

10.15am A shipment of 50,000 Malta-bound medical suits has been ransacked in a Turkish shipping warehouse, with the stolen equipment likely to have been sold on a new global black market for COVID-19 hospital supplies.

Read Ivan Martin's story here.

Health minister to give press conference at 11am

10.10am Chris Fearne will be speaking to the press shortly. We will be updating you as it happens.

Increased health testing

10.05am Health Minister Chris Fearne said there is increased testing for healthcare staff. Those at Mater Dei hospital call 2545 1111; those in primary care and other hospitals call 2364 5002.

Attention: Maltese nationals currently abroad

9.55am The Foreign Affairs Ministry has issued a statement urging Maltese nationals currently abroad to make their way to Malta by no later than Sunday April 12 via London Heathrow or Frankfurt Main, by making use of any available commercial flights.

The flight itinerary together with a copy of the passport bio page are to be sent to sitcen.mfea@gov.mt for reservation of repatriation flights from London Heathrow or Frankfurt Main.

Persons who choose to remain abroad after Sunday will remain at their own risk.

The Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs said it cannot guarantee repatriation after this date.

This also applies to third country nationals in possession of a valid Maltese residence permit. For reservation of repatriation flights, a copy of the passport and residence card is to be submitted together with the flight itinerary on sitcen.mfea@gov.mt.

Persons who are unable to travel because of imposed lockdowns are to inform the ministry on sitcen.mfea@gov.mt.

Those who have are already registered with the ministry are also urged to send an email with an update of their current status.

The ministry can be reached by phone on 00356 2204 2200. Reservations for repatriation flights will only be accepted by email.

Around the world

9.40am China reports no deaths for the first time since the crisis began;

Italy announced 3,599 new coronavirus cases on Monday, its lowest daily increase in around three weeks. Spain confirmed 4,273 new cases, suggesting a downward trend in two of Europe’s hardest-hit countries;

241 people have so far tested positive for coronavirus in Malta, of whom five have already recovered;

The virus has killed more than 10,500 people in the United States, nearly half of them in New York;

Spain is to roll out a universal basic income “as soon as possible” to mitigate the impact of coronavirus. It is the first country in Europe to do so.

The New Zealand health minister has called himself an "idiot" for going to beach during lockdown. He has since been demoted.

Boris Johnson spends the night in ITU

9.30am British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spent the night in intensive care at a London hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened. He was moved as a precaution so he could be close to a ventilator.

World leaders have lined up to wish the British prime minister a speedy recovery.