Bars, restaurants and all other food establishments across Malta have taken action and closed their premises, or altered their services, in light of the recent legal notice that was released in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Last Monday, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that as from 17 March at midnight all bars, cinemas, restaurants, clubs and gyms will be closed until further notice.
Most establishments to which this legal notice applies seem to be abiding by these new regulations as the daily hustle and bustle has come to a sudden halt and one will find nothing but closed doors an shutters wherever they go.
According to these regulations take-aways are still allowed to continue to operate, and restaurants have the option to provide take-away and delivery services.
Many establishments have adapted to the situation and have started offering take-away and delivery services. A small number of establishments had turned their outdoor areas into places where customers could eat their ‘take-away’ meals but this is in breach of the regulations.
MTA inspectors, after receiving reports from the public, have made sure that this situation stops and many establishments with outside catering areas have stacked up their tables and chairs.
These regulations were put in place with the aim of reducing the chances of people crowding up in one place as this goes against the social distancing precaution that the World Health Organisation (WHO) put in place to combat this pandemic.
Having said this, one can still find people congregating in other places such as banks where people are queuing up without keeping at a safe one-meter distance as recommended by the World Health Organisation.
On Friday morning, The Malta Independent asked Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci if the health authorities are concerned about this and if anything will be done about it.
“There are a few places which we have identified that need to remain open. Tele-work is possible for a number of jobs, but others cannot function like this only. We are in constant communication with these establishments and providing guidelines that will reduce chances of crowds. However, it is also up to the people themselves to follow social distancing regulations when it comes to visiting such establishments,” Gauci said.
Photos: Alenka Falzon