Correction: The first wave of COVID-19 in Malta; a national cross-sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239389.].

Multiorgan thrombosis as a complication of COVID-19 pneumonia.

A 47-year-old man, positive for SARS-CoV-2, was diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) complicated by myocarditis on a background of COVID-19 pneumonia. He was medically treated for ACS; however, 3 days into his admission, the patient developed neurological complications confirmed on MRI of the brain. MRI showed established infarcts involving a large part of the left temporal lobe and right occipital lobe, with minor foci of micro-haemorrhagic transformation in the left temporal lobe. A left ventricular mural thrombus was then confirmed on echocardiogram, and this was attributed as the cause of his neurological infarct. Further infarctions in the kidneys and spleen, and thrombi in the superior mesenteric and left femoral artery were also identified on imaging of the abdomen. The left ventricular mural thrombus was removed surgically via a midline sternotomy incision under general anaesthesia. Surgery was successful and the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation centre.

The first wave of COVID-19 in Malta; a national cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed major challenges to all aspects of healthcare. Malta's population density, large proportion of elderly and high prevalence of diabetes and obesity put the country at risk of uncontrolled viral transmission and high mortality. Despite this, Malta achieved low mortality rates compared to figures overseas. The aim of this paper is to identify key factors that contributed to these favorable outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational, nationwide study which evaluates outcomes of patients during the first wave of the pandemic in Malta, from the 7th of March to the 24th of April 2020. Data was collected on demographics and mode of transmission. Hospitalization rates to Malta's main general hospital, Mater Dei Hospital, length of in-hospital stay, intensive care unit admissions and 30-day mortality were also analyzed. RESULTS: There were 447 confirmed cases in total; 19.5% imported, 74.2% related to community transmission and 6.3% nosocomially transmitted. Ninety-three patients (20.8%) were hospitalized, of which 4 were children. Patients with moderate-severe disease received hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, in line with evidence available at the time. A total of 4 deaths were recorded, resulting in an all-cause mortality of 0.89%. Importantly, all admitted patients with moderate-severe disease survived to 30-day follow up. CONCLUSION: Effective public health interventions, widespread testing, remote surveillance of patients in the community and a low threshold for admission are likely to have contributed to these favorable outcomes. Hospital infection control measures were key in preventing significant nosocomial spread. These concepts can potentially be applied to stem future outbreaks of viral diseases. Patients with moderate-severe disease had excellent outcomes with no deaths reported at 30-day follow up.