Just over 12 hours after Malta’s 24th COVID-19-related death was announced, the Health Ministry has announced yet another virus-related death, an 84-year-old man.

The elderly man tested positive for COVID-19 on 18th September, and was immediately taken to Mater Dei’s Infectious Disease Unit. He passed away late last night.

According to the ministry’s statement, the man had “ulterior health conditions”.

It’s been a particularly tragic week in Malta as far as COVID-19 deaths go, with two being announced on Monday, another last Friday and three patients – aged 72, 86 and 85 – last Saturday.

Yesterday, the Kamra Tal-Ispizjara Ta’ Malta flagged the spike in deaths as clear institutional failures, saying Malta’s elderly are “starting to fall like flies” because public health experts were ignored when lockdown was lifted in the beginning of summer.

RIP