Assessing perceptions of pedestrian-focused intervention in a car-dependent European island

Apart from the numerous social, economic, and environmental impacts of car dependence, the time people spend sitting in motorised vehicles has been identified as a sedentary behaviour that can negatively impact people's physical and psychological health. The climate breakdown and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to expose the fragility and vulnerability of the urban environment and the imminent need for response, management, and radical re-thinking through innovation, especially within the transport sector. The incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic has also reiterated the need for urban centres to re-establish a sense of community, extend the benefits reaped from reduced motorised transport usage and boost small/medium-size businesses through the provision of active travel spaces. This paper investigates the role of pedestrian-focused intervention to encourage walking rather than car use for short-distance trips, within the context of the car-dependent small island state of Malta. The research includes the use of semi-structured interviews with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a virtual platform for citizen participation. The platform is an interactive space for participants to identify barriers that discourage walking and explore and evaluate options that encourage walking as a mode of transport. A discussion of preliminary findings sheds light on the impact of pedestrian interventions that encourage active travel and contribute policy-relevant outcomes based on the perceptions and direct feedback from citizens and stakeholders alike. © 2023 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.

Assessing perceptions of pedestrian-focused intervention in a car-dependent European island

Apart from the numerous social, economic, and environmental impacts of car dependence, the time people spend sitting in motorised vehicles has been identified as a sedentary behaviour that can negatively impact people's physical and psychological health. The climate breakdown and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to expose the fragility and vulnerability of the urban environment and the imminent need for response, management, and radical re-thinking through innovation, especially within the transport sector. The incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic has also reiterated the need for urban centres to re-establish a sense of community, extend the benefits reaped from reduced motorised transport usage and boost small/medium-size businesses through the provision of active travel spaces. This paper investigates the role of pedestrian-focused intervention to encourage walking rather than car use for short-distance trips, within the context of the car-dependent small island state of Malta. The research includes the use of semi-structured interviews with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a virtual platform for citizen participation. The platform is an interactive space for participants to identify barriers that discourage walking and explore and evaluate options that encourage walking as a mode of transport. A discussion of preliminary findings sheds light on the impact of pedestrian interventions that encourage active travel and contribute policy-relevant outcomes based on the perceptions and direct feedback from citizens and stakeholders alike. © 2023 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and anxiety levels of young mental health patients and their parents

Introduction: One restriction measure during the COVID-19 pandemic period was the closure of sport-related facilities, generating substantial anxiety. This study analyzed longitudinal changes in anxiety and physical activity (PA) levels in young people (YP) attending a community child and adolescent mental health service, and their parents/caregivers from 2020 to 2022. Method: This quantitatively driven convergent mixed-methods cohort study utilized validated scoring tools (GAD-7/GLTEQ) as the core quantitative component, and open-ended questions as the supplementary qualitative component. The quantitative and qualitative data were statistically analyzed, and both results were integrated. Questionnaires were distributed in August-October 2020 (Phase 1: At the peak of restriction period), August-October 2021 (Phase 2: During gradual removal of restrictions) and August-October 2022 (Phase 3: When all restrictions were removed). Results: Parent/caregiver's anxiety levels significantly reduced from Phase 1 to Phase 3. Results revealed non-significant improvements in YP's PA levels from Phase 1 to Phase 3. PA levels in YP were significantly higher than those of parents/caregivers throughout all Phases. A significant negative correlation was revealed between PA and anxiety levels in parents/caregivers throughout all Phases. The fear of getting infected, lifting of restrictive measures, vaccination benefits, and pandemic-induced social/financial struggles were common themes generated from the qualitative comments. Conclusion: The authors recommend PA promotional campaigns and incentives during such restrictive periods, helping the population's mental well-being. The high attrition rates in this study may decrease its generalizability. However, the results generated from this innovative study may serve as a platform for future research carried out during traumatic periods. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

GIREP Malta Webinar 2021

PrefaceAfter the success of the GIREP Malta Webinar 2020, both GIREP Board members and the organisers/hosts from the University of Malta decided to plan for another meeting for GIREP members, to be organised in 2021. Restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic had automatically led the organisers of the first meeting to decide in favour of organising a webinar. There was hope, from both organisers and participants, that the 2nd meeting would be held face-to-face in Malta. But even this idea had to be abandoned in 2021. So a second webinar was organised instead. Seeing that participants of the first webinar indicated the need for further discussion related to physics teacher education, this being such an important topic, the GIREP Board decided that Webinar 2021 would still focus on ‘Physics Teacher Education: What matters?' This was the title of the GIREP Malta Webinar 2021.During the Webinar, various keynote speeches were presented. Participants were then sub-divided into groups, according to the workgroups of their interest. The workgroups dealt with specific topics for discussion, led by experts in the field. Participants had time at their disposal to present their work and research. They actively interacted with each other and the group leaders, during discussions. A number of papers were submitted, post-webinar. Each paper was independently and anonymously reviewed by two experts.The workgroups dealt specifically with the following topics:• Preparing teachers for TPACK (technological, pedagogical and content knowledge) and Lab work;• Developing and evaluating teacher PCK (Pedagogical Content Knowledge) in Quantum Mechanics (tools and approaches);• In-service Physics teacher education for early childhood and primary levels;• Pre-service Physics teacher education at all levels;• In-service Physics teacher professional learning for second and higher level education.The topic titles shown above have been used as Section Titles for this Journal of Physics: Conference Series publication. Published papers have been sectioned according to the working group in which they were originally presented.Once again, we must admit that organising the GIREP Malta Webinar 2021 and finalising the editing process for the post webinar publications has been quite a challenge. We have worked with passion and enthusiasm. We firmly believe that discussions, interactions and publications of this kind can help improve teaching and learning at all levels, offering creative ideas that can be used personally by teachers to enhance the class environment, both physically and mentally, as well as creating the important link between theory and practice. We would like to thank all those who contributed to the publication of these papers, including the GIREP board, the authors and reviewers. Thank you for your time and effort.List of International Advisory Committee and Scientific Programme Committee, Local Organising Committee, The Editors are available in this Pdf.

A population-based paediatric Covid-19 vaccination progress and outcomes: The Malta case.

Background: Covid-19 is still pandemic with population vaccination, including among children, remaining the mainstay for hastening the exit from the pandemic. The article provides an insight in Malta's national paediatric vaccination modus operandi, vaccination uptake, and epidemiological trends while exploring geographical social inequalities among the ≤ 15 years cohort up till end of August 2022. Methods: The Vaccination Coordination Unit in Malta's only regional hospital provided an account of the strategic roll-out along with anonymised cumulative vaccination doses by age band and district. Descriptive and multivariant logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: By mid-August 2022, 44.18% of the under 15's population had received at least 1 vaccine dose. A bi-directional relationship was observed between increased cumulative vaccination and reported Covid-19 cases until early 2022. Central vaccination hubs were set up with invitation letters and SMSs sent to parents. Children residing in the Southern Harbour district (OR: 0.42, P < 0.01) had the highest full vaccination uptake (46.66%) as opposed to the Gozo district (lowest at 27.23%; OR: 0.3, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Successful paediatric vaccination is not only dependent on easily accessible vaccination but also on vaccine effectiveness against variants, as well as population characteristics, with potential geographical social inequalities hindering uptake.

Home Advantage in City and Same-Stadium Derbies: Evidence from European Professional Football

The search for the main factors of the home advantage phenomenon in professional European football is a hot topic for scientific research. We assessed the contribution of individual factors to the home advantage using the statistical results of European city derbies, same-stadium derbies, and matches of the championships of microstates. We compared the statistical results of the European city and stadium derbies, as well as matches of the championships of Luxembourg and Malta, played in the presence of spectators in the stands (2017–2020) and without spectators in the Covid-19 pandemic (2020–2021). The number of home victories was compared with the number of away victories using a paired t-test, and the impact of the number of spectators in the stands on the outcome of matches was assessed based on a logistic regression model. Home advantage was present in European city derbies and Luxembourg championship matches before the Covid-19 pandemic. For popular city derbies from Europe's elite leagues, home advantage has been maintained through the Covid-19 pandemic with no spectators in the stands. There was no home advantage in stadium derbies and Maltese championship matches. We conclude that the home advantage can be determined by the influence of only one factor – familiarity of the players of the home team with the football stadium. The information presented in the article can be used by players, coaches and managers of professional football clubs to improve the performance of the game. © Siberian Federal University. All rights reserved.

Correction to: The acceptance of learning management systems and video conferencing technologies: Lessons learned from COVID-19

Reports an error in "The acceptance of learning management systems and video conferencing technologies: Lessons learned from covid-19" by Mark Anthony Camilleri and Adriana Caterina Camilleri (Technology, Knowledge and Learning: Learning mathematics, science and the arts in the context of digital technologies, Advanced Online Publication, Aug 12, 2021, np). In the originally published article, the authors identified an error in Fig. 1. The correct Fig. 1 and its caption are given in this erratum. The original article has been revised. (The following of the original article appeared in record 2021-76378-001). During the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, higher education institutions (HEIs) have shifted from traditional and blended learning approaches to a fully virtual course delivery. This research investigates the students' perceptions on remote learning through asynchronous learning management systems (LMS) and via synchronous video conferencing technologies like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams or Zoom, among others. The data was gathered from a sample of 501 higher education students in a Southern European context. A survey questionnaire included measures that investigated the participants' acceptance of interactive technology to better understand their utilitarian motivations to use them. The findings suggest that the research participants accessed asynchronous content and interacted with online users, including with their course instructor, in real time. While there are a number of theoretical or opinion papers on the impact of COVID-19 on higher education services, currently, there are still a few empirical papers that shed light on the factors that are having an effect on the students' attitudes and intentions to utilize remote learning technologies. This contribution underlines the importance of maintaining ongoing, interactive engagement with students, and of providing them with appropriate facilitating conditions, to continue improving their learning journey. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Digital systemic practices in Europe: A survey before the COVID-19 pandemic

Knowledge regarding digital practices in the field of systemic therapy is poor. A few surveys have been conducted in non-European countries investigating the provision of digitally based therapy, counselling, training, and supervision by systemic family and couple therapists (SCFTs). Thus, a survey aiming to investigate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) among European SCFTs was launched in 2017. A sample of 220 SCFTs was included in the survey. The majority were residents in Greece, France and Italy. Descriptive analysis compared SCFTs' digital practices and concerns from the above three countries with those from the rest of Europe. Results showed that 81.4 per cent of European SCFTs used ICT for clinical purposes and 47.7 per cent in training and supervision. Main concerns among European SCFTs related to the quality of therapeutic relationship, ethical and legal issues, and a lack of national and transnational regulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement ICT use and e-therapy increase access to mental health services and maintain therapeutic contact. Systemic individual therapy, supervision and training are workable online settings. Legislation regulating ICT use in therapy, supervision and training (e.g. General Data Protection Regulation) has to be respected. Training and continuous education in online practices enhance therapists' and clients' options, and ensure digital safeness and effective treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19 Fear Impact on Israeli and Maltese Female "Help" Profession Students.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 fear on the well-being of Israeli and Maltese female "help" profession (e.g., social work and psychology) undergraduate students. This cross-national comparison includes factors of depression, anxiety, anger, loneliness, nervousness, substance use, eating behavior, burnout, and resilience. The study hypothesis is that country status, even with different social-cultural characteristics including religiosity, is not a significant factor associated with COVID-19 fear impact on select behavioral characteristics of female university students. METHODS: A total of 453 female "help" profession students completed an online survey from January to July 2021. Various statistical methods of analysis including regression were used for this study. RESULTS: The mean COVID-19 fear scores were the same among Israeli and Maltese students. Resilience was found to be higher among Israeli females; burnout was found to be higher among those from Malta. Substance use (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, or prescription drugs) in the last month was reported by 77.2% of the respondents. No significant differences were found for previous-month substance use based on country status. Regardless of country, respondents who reported more previous-month substance use had higher COVID-19 fear and burnout scores, as well as lower resilience. Due to COVID-19, most respondents (74.3%) reported deterioration of their psycho-emotional well-being in the last month; however, no significant differences were found based on country and religiosity statuses. Furthermore, no significant differences were found for eating behavior changes and weight increase based on country and religiosity statuses. CONCLUSION: Study findings showed the impact of COVID-19 fear on the well-being of Israeli and Maltese female "help" profession undergraduate students. This study examined only female students; however, additional research is needed to address male students and their experiences. Prevention and treatment intervention measures aimed to increase resilience and decrease burnout, including those that can be made available on campus, should be thought about by university administration personnel and student association leaders in consultation with mental health professionals.

The impact of COVID-19 closures on the Megalithic Temples of Malta UNESCO world heritage site

Purpose: This study will determine the impact COVID-19 closures had on the Megalithic Temples of Malta. The physical, economic, social and conservation impacts will be discussed. Design/methodology/approach: This study relies mainly on field observations of the effects managerial and state decisions had on the sites. A timeline from February to July 2020 will outline all major events and changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic happening in Malta and specifically within Heritage Malta sites. Findings: The pandemic impacted the sites under study economically, and socially, whilst the impact on the sites attributed to visitors and other agents of deterioration were variable. These findings affected the way sites reopened to the public with restrictions and additional safety measures. Originality/value: This article highlights the effect the pandemic had on archaeological sites in Central Mediterranean islands which are heavily reliant on tourism. It also highlights the important role such open-air sites have within the local community. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Evaluating the knowledge acquisition of lower limb anatomy among medical students during the post-acute COVID-19 era.

Anatomy is the foundation of many medical and surgical specialties yet knowledge acquisition and retention among medical students is questionable. Over the years the anatomy teaching environment and teaching modalities have changed, even more so with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to a virtual environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge acquisition of applied musculoskeletal lower limb clinical anatomy among first year medical students in Malta following the transition back to face-to-face lectures. The Kahoot online game-based quiz platform was used through a best out of four multiple-choice setting across four sessions. Scores generated by the platform along with frequencies of correctly answered questions were utilized to measure knowledge acquisition. The average scores for each question across sessions were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and student's t-test accordingly. Across the four sessions, the positive percentage response for clinical based questions remained higher than for pure anatomy questions. Anatomy knowledge acquisition appears to be subjective to clinical based knowledge rather than pure anatomy. There may be a plethora of reasons as to this outcome including the misconception that anatomy is not essential for clinical practice as well as the potential aftermath of the COVID-induced virtual learning environment. Further research is merit to ensure that students are provided with the best tools to enhance their knowledge acquisition, both as students and as future doctors.

Navigating the science, the myths and the realities of COVID-19 pandemic

Background: A number of challenges are faced by health systems and academia as the SARS-CoV-2 viral infection spreads to pandemic levels. Purpose(s): To develop webinars presenting scientific evidence and reflecting on the challenges in navigating the science, myths and realities of COVID-19 pandemic. The webinars were intended to develop an inter-professional dimension to the discussion by analysing current research, practices and applications proposed by institutions within the international scenario. Method(s): A series of webinars was prepared and presented every week, each of a duration of 45 minutes with 15 minutes discussion. For each webinar, a panel of experts including virologists, immunologists, specialists in infectious disease, internal medicine and intensive care, pharmaceutical and public health regulators. Result(s): Eight webinar topics were presented covering the presentation of the infection, the rationale for re-positioning of medicines, on-going clinical trials, medical devices and use of personal protective equipment, scientific-evidence related to containment measures, laboratory investigations and interpretation, development of vaccines and the consequences of lockdown such as affordability, social health and well-being. Each webinar was followed by an average of 250 participants. Participants consisted mainly of health professionals including students and academics from the University of Malta and other international academic institutions. Conclusion(s): The webinars served to present an analysis of scientific evidence within an inter-professional discussion and sharing of experiences and data.

A Year of COVID-19 Pandemic Roller-Coaster: The Malta Experience, Lessons Learnt, and the Future.

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Designing "Virtual Social Europe Days" -- An International Collaborative Seminar across Closed Borders

"Social Europe Days" is a collaborative four-day international seminar held yearly near Brussels, Belgium, by a network of ten European universities from eight different countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seminar had to be offered virtually and redesigned. The final design included synchronous and asynchronous activities, informal and formal interactions, and a focus on empathy for the existential problems faced by participating students and faculty during the pandemic. This article describes the design challenges, the design choices and decisions that led to the virtual seminar design, and reflections based on lead faculty notes, member checking, and student evaluations.

A Global Picture of School Social Work in 2021

The article provides a global picture of school social work in 2021 using data gathered by the International Network for School Social Work. School social work is a growing specialty around the world. There are school social workers practicing in more than 50 countries. School social workers support students' educational success, especially those who are marginalized by poverty, oppression, disability and other personal or social problems. Ideally school social workers practice within a multi-disciplinary team to address wide-ranging barriers to education and participate in preventive programs for all students. The article describes the growth of school social work around the world, various models of practice, the role of specialty professional associations, training and standards, and the growth of school social work literature. Changes in the role and practice of school social work since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020/2021 are included. International communication among school social workers has grown via publications, conferences and the International Network for School Social Work, and continues to assist expansion of the specialty around the world. Implications for the future of social work in education are discussed, a list of national school social work associations is provided and references include literature on school social work from various countries.

Psychological Applications and Trends 2022

This book contains a compilation of papers presented at the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2022, organized by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (W.I.A.R.S.), held in Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal, from 23 to 25 of April 2022. Modern psychology offers a large range of scientific fields where it can be applied. The goal of understanding individuals and groups (mental functions and behavioral standpoints), from this academic and practical scientific discipline, aims ultimately to benefit society. The International Conference seeks to provide some answers and explore the several areas within the Psychology field, new developments in studies and proposals for future scientific projects. The goal is to offer a worldwide connection between psychologists, researchers and lecturers, from a wide range of academic fields, interested in exploring and giving their contribution in psychological issues. We take pride in having been able to connect and bring together academics, scholars, practitioners and others interested in a field that is fertile in new perspectives, ideas and knowledge. We counted on an extensive variety of contributors and presenters, which can supplement the view of the human essence and behavior, showing the impact of their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. This is, certainly, one of the reasons there are several nationalities and cultures represented, inspiring multi-disciplinary collaborative links, fomenting intellectual encounters and development. InPACT 2022 received 364 submissions, from more than 35 different countries all over the world, reviewed by a double-blind process. Submissions were prepared to take the form of Oral Presentations, Posters and Virtual Presentations. 121 submissions (overall, 33% acceptance rate) were accepted for presentation at the conference. The Conference addresses different categories inside Applied Psychology area and papers fit broadly into one of the named themes and sub-themes. This book contains the results of the different researches conducted by authors who focused on what they are passionate about: to study and develop research in areas related to Psychology and its applications. It includes an extensive variety of contributors and presenters that are hereby sharing with us their different personal, academic and cultural experiences. [This document contains the proceedings of the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2022, held in Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal, from April 23-25, 2022. The proceedings were published by inScience Press. For the 2021 proceedings, see ED622091.]

ASSESSING THE RESILIENCE OF UK'S ECONOMY AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND BREXIT

The objective of the paper is to assess the resilience of UKs economy towards two economic shocks: the Covid-19pandemic that hit the global economy in Q4 2019, in years 2020,2021 and2022 and the Brexit following the withdrawal ofUKfrom the European Union on 31 January 2020. To assess the resilience ofUK s economy, two sets of forecasts are generated: forecasts using historical data including the pandemic and the Brexit (from Q11998 to Q4 2021) and not including the pandemic and the Brexit (from Q1 1998 to Q3 2019). The computation of the difference of their averages is an indicator of the resilience of the economy during the pandemic, the greater the difference the greater the resilience. Eurozone is used as benchmark. By subtracting the average forecasted 20222050 Eurozone quarterly GDP growth rate (annualized) obtained with the Q1 1998-Q4 2021 data, +2.93%, by the one obtained with the Q11998-Q3 2019 data, +1.59% the difference is + 1.33%, whereas with UK the difference is -2.33% [-0.24% - (-2.09%)]. Thus, Eurozone shows a greater resilience (+1.33%) than the UK (-2.33%) based on 2022-2050forecasts. In addition, the authors pointed out that the average ofthe 2022-2050 quarterly (annualized) growth rate forecasts ofthe Eurozone is expected to be +2.93% with the 1998-2021 data whereas it is expected to be only -2.09%for UK The Eurozone economy shows better prospects than the UK economy.

A cross-sectional study exploring the Covid-19 vaccination landscape in Malta through social media: An insight into experiences, attitudes, and perspectives.

Background and Aims: Covid-19 vaccines were disseminated across Europe from the end of 2020. Malta had one of the fastest vaccination rollouts in Europe and by March 2022 most adults had their booster dose. The aim was to investigate adult's perspectives, experiences, and attitudes regarding vaccination in Malta. Methods: An anonymous online survey targeting adult social media users living in Malta was disseminated through social media, with a snowball technique. Demographic information, vaccination uptake, side-effects, perceptions, and experiences were gathered through quantitative and qualitative means. Participants were sub-grouped according to their vaccination status and descriptive analysis through frequency was performed. χ 2/Fisher test testing followed by logistic regressions were performed to assess the vaccination perspectives according to vaccination status. Results: Out of 611 participants 79.87% had the booster, 4.91% had two doses awaiting booster, 6.55% refused booster while, 8.67% refused any dose. Booster sub-group when compared to vaccine hesitant sub-group exhibited an association with the perception for the need to "continue wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and hand washing following vaccination" (odds ratio [OR]: 5.97 confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.09-32.36 p = 0.04). Those waiting for the booster dose when compared to those refusing booster, exhibited an association with the perspective that "COVID-19 vaccine is the solution to returning to normality" (OR: 5.00 CI 95%: 1.12-22.35 p = 0.04). The commonest reason for inoculation was to protect against severe disease (63.08% CI 95%: 58.91-67.07). More pronounced booster adverse effects raised concern about future booster doses uptake. Unwillingness among anti-booster and vaccine hesitant arose among high socioeconomic background participants, with concern for vaccine safety and adverse effects. Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy is low yet, vaccination unwillingness even among highly educated may act as a barrier to control the pandemic. Clear, transparent public health communication which targets concerns is crucial, with unified messages from governing bodies optimizing population safety.

A Trendline and Predictive Analysis of the First-Wave COVID-19 Infections in Malta.

Following the first COVID-19 infected cases, Malta rapidly imposed strict lockdown measures, including restrictions on international travel, together with national social distancing measures, such as prohibition of public gatherings and closure of workplaces. The study aimed to elucidate the effect of the intervention and relaxation of the social distancing measures upon the infection rate by means of a trendline analysis of the daily case data. In addition, the study derived a predictive model by fitting historical data of the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases within a two-parameter Weibull distribution, whilst incorporating swab-testing rates, to forecast the infection rate at minute computational expense. The trendline analysis portrayed the wave of infection to fit within a tri-phasic pattern, where the primary phase was imposed with social measure interventions. Following the relaxation of public measures, the two latter phases transpired, where the two peaks resolved without further escalation of national measures. The derived forecasting model attained accurate predictions of the daily infected cases, attaining a high goodness-of-fit, utilising uncensored government-official infection-rate and swabbing-rate data within the first COVID-19 wave in Malta.