Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Malta.
Mater Dei Hospital, Malta.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2022 May 2;17:e153. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2022.100.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行具有全球性影响。本研究探讨了过去一年马耳他的各种 COVID-19 经历，并概述了急性和后期 COVID-19 症状，以及国家疫苗接种推出和犹豫情况。
通过针对马耳他成年人的社交媒体调查收集有关医疗准入、生活方式习惯、急性和后期 COVID-19 症状以及疫苗接种犹豫的数据。COVID-19 数据从马耳他卫生部 COVID-19 仪表板中收集。
马耳他最初非常出色地控制了 COVID-19 的传播。自 2020 年 8 月以来，阳性率、死亡率和住院率呈波动上升趋势。自 COVID-19 发病以来，报告称体力活动减少和体重增加。大多数感染 COVID-19 的参与者无症状，但相当一部分人出现后期症状。大多数人选择接种 COVID-19 疫苗，但少数人表示对安全性存在担忧。
马耳他在一年中经历了过山车般的事件。该人群面临着更高的发病率、死亡率和经济困难，以及负面和正面的风险相关行为。疫苗接种加上人口对保持社交距离、戴口罩和个人卫生的遵守，有望成为未来几个月的希望灯塔。
