All people returning to the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy from Malta will need to undergo a swab test within 24 hours from arrival, Italian news organisation La Repubblica reports.

If the swab test turns out negative, then no quarantine measures will be required.

This is the latest instance of other countries and regions imposing restrictions on people travelling from Malta due to the rising number of local cases.

Malta had seen a sharp decrease in Covid-19 cases, which however then began to spike upwards once restrictive measures were lifted, and mass events took place.