Chief medical officer rules out allowing COVID-19 self-test kits
Chief Medical Officer Walter Busuttil has ruled out making self-testing kits for COVID-19 legal, citing concerns about their accuracy when compared to tests carried out at authorised testing centres. His comments come amid reports of delays in appointments for PCR tests for those with COVID-19 symptoms. "Different countries are taking different decisions on this issue [the use of self-tests]. So far, the decision is that we do not move towards allowing self-testing. "The disadvantage is that there are some who take matters into their own hands and make their own decision on things without medical advice. We also know that self-testing kits are not 100 per cent accurate," Busuttil said. Busuttil made the comments during an interview on TVM, during which he gave an overview of the island's current COVID-19 situation. Kits available locally, despite law Self-testing kits are used extensively abroad as part of efforts to get as many people tested as possible. Across Europe, their widespread use has resulted in shortages, with people queueing for hours to get their hands on them. The kits are illegal in Malta and cannot be sold or purchased. However, they are readily available...