Cyprus became the latest country to impose travel restrictions from Malta, effectively banning any travellers except residents returning home, who would be required to stay 14 days in quarantine upon their return, Cypriot media report.

Malta jumped from being a Category A for Cyprus – meaning no travel restrictions – to Category C, meaning that travellers from Malta are banned except for Cypriot residents returning home. Spain and Australia have also been put on the Category C list.

The ban comes into effect on 20 August.

It is the latest blow to the Maltese tourism industry as the number of Covid-19 cases in Malta reach unprecedented levels.

A few days ago, the UK placed Malta on its quarantine list, joining Denmark and Norway in announcing restrictions on travel between them and Malta on Thursday, and comes after several other countries have introduced similar restrictions as well.

Italy has announced that it requires coronavirus tests for people arriving from Croatia, Malta, Spain and Greece after a spate of new infections were registered in Italians returning home from vacation.

Both Belgium and  the Netherlands meanwhile have placed Malta on their ‘orange list’ for travel.

Meanwhile, Slovenia also removed Malta from its travel green-list, joining Ireland and the three Baltic countries in this regard.

Furthermore, one requires a negative Covid-19 swab test to travel from Malta to Greece, with that negative test result having to be a maximum of 72 hours before departure to the Mediterranean destination.

Quarantine regulations are also in place for Ireland and all three Baltic countries.