It is obligatory that all passengers boarding the Gozo Channel ferries must continue to wear a face mask, the Gozo Channel Operations Limited said in a short post on their social media platforms. 

On Wednesday evening, the Gozo Channel Operations Limited posted a statement on their social media, reminding that all passengers using terminals and ferries must wear a face mask, that it is actually obligatory to do so. 

On 30 June, the public health emergency order was lifted and all legal notices on COVID-19 restrictions were removed. Whilst all legal notices have been removed, guidelines of using face masks and social distancing remain. Whether people are still abiding by such regulations is another story. 

The Gozo Channel Operations Limited statement followed a stream of comments and criticism. 

Many commented that the enforcement of using masks must first begin amongst crew and staff. 

“Circulate this notice among your staff first and then inform the “security” that enforcing the use of the masks is ‘part’ of their jobs”, read one comment. 

Another commented that four out of the five sanitizers pumps on one of the boats were empty. “How can we continue with the sanitizing and use of masks when these are not providing in the first place?”