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The spike in COVID-19 cases, the tight quarantine rules and the long wait for official testing have brought about a new phenomenon: a black market for self-testing kits that are being sold clandestinely at more than triple the original price.

People are increasingly resorting to these home kits to perform the COVID-19 test on themselves, with a result in just 15 minutes.

Last week, Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci argued against their use, saying that since they are uncomfortable to take, many people would invariably handle them wrongly, leading to many false negatives.

Self-testing kits are technically illegal in Malta but are still readily available for those who seek them. Some companies are selling them online but sales are limited to professionals.

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TIMES OF MALTA

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