A number of photos have been doing the rounds on social media showing lines of cars waiting in standstill traffic to board the Gozo ferry on Wednesday. 

Photos published on Facebook by Maltese Roads Traffic Updates show heavy traffic starting from near the Mellieha’s Red Tower heading all the way towards Ċirkewwa. 

The timing of the pictures uploaded indicate that many people have chosen to spend New Year’s Eve in Gozo despite the pandemic and despite calls for people to be responsible and not mingle with others over the holiday period.

Earlier today in fact, Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci warned the public against partying and social gatherings during this time. This kind of warning was not only given to the public today, but on several other occassions as the authorities have repeatedly urged the public to avoid such gatherings in groups over the festive season. 

Deputy President of the Malta Chamber of SMEs Philip Fenech had told The Malta Independent that the Chamber of SMEs has been informed that some people are organising private parties for the festive season and that bookings for farmhouses and other establishments were fully booked during this period.

Many social media users expressed their anger at the traffic jams, with many lamenting how the elderly had been locked at home for nine months and how they had been following the precautions of health authorities so to help in restricting the spread of the pandemic.