While many might consider the Covid-19 pandemic to have been consigned to the history books, it transpires that there are still hundreds of cases in the community albeit not as deadly as before.

Statistics tabled recently in Parliament by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne show that so far in 2023, the number of reported cases has exceeded 4,000. Cases peaked in January with 705 and in August with 696 cases. However, the numbers cited in this statistic are likely to be rather conservative as not all cases are being reported to the health authorities. The statistic which was tabled in reply to a parliamentary question filed by Opposition MP Chris Said shows that from the turn of the year till September 19, there have been 4,057 reported cases with the lowest numbers being registered in May and June when the total monthly cases hovered around 250. In his reply, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that the roll out of the Covid-19 booster had just started.

MonthNumber of Covid-19 reported cases
January705
February421
March577
April504
May262
June251
July411
August696
September (up to 19 September)230

Information on the number of Covid-19 cases used to be published on a daily basis by the health ministry on its Facebook page but such practice was discontinued days after the March 2022 general election.  The decision coincided with the relaxation of certain restrictions though in sensitive places like hospitals these were kept in force for much longer. However, authorities had turned a blind eye for the political mass events which had been organised in the run up to the general election in blatant breach of the restrictions were still in full force.

According to the World Health Organization, which is still publishing the statistics on a daily basis, from the start of the outbreak in March 2020 till October 4, 2023, there have been 120,422 cases which have resulted in 882 deaths. However, fatalities have been in a steady decline as from July 2022.

According to the WHO the last fatality was recorded on September 18. In total, there have been 44 deaths due to Covid-19 in 2023, which is roughly the equivalent amount recorded in July 2022 alone.