Seated social and cultural events will be allowed to take place again as from the 5 July, with a capping of 100 people, the government announced on Friday.
The events will be open only to those with a vaccine certificate, which is issued to a person after 15 days has elapsed since they were fully vaccinated.
Announcing the measures, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that the reopening of such events will be a cautious one and that it depends on whether the situation remains as it is.
Fearne said that from 5 July, only seated events for those with a vaccine certificate will be allowed.
The events must take place in an enclosed space – meaning that the venue must either be indoors with a controlled entry, or outdoors in a place which is fenced in. The venue must have a controlled entry point in order to ensure that attendees’ vaccine certificates can be checked.
Organisers must fill in a risk-assessment form, which will be available on the Malta Tourism Authority website, in order to ensure that the necessary requirements will be followed.
The capacity of the event cannot exceed more than 1 person for every 4 square metres of the venue. That is then capped at, as from 5 July, 100 vaccinated people.
Fearne said that the maximum number of attendees will, if the case numbers do not increase when these measures are introduced, increase to 150 vaccinated people on 19 July, and then to 200 vaccinated people on 2 August.
Fearne said that the authorities will be in a position to announce further details on attendees in the coming weeks depending on how the reopening progresses.
He said that there is no major restriction on the type of activities which can take place, as long as the necessary requirements are followed.
“This is the moment where we need to keep the most discipline. Just because case numbers have decreased, we cannot take the law into our own hands and think that everything has passed. Let us open, let us have some fun, but without putting our health into danger”, Fearne said.
Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci explained that children who are less than 5 years of age will be able to attend events with their parents as long as said parents have a vaccine certificate.
Children between 5 and 12 years of age, if they are accompanied by their parents, will need to present a rapid test result or a PCR test result taken either 24 hours or 72 hours respectively before the event.
Pregnant woman will require a certificate from their doctor stating that they are pregnant, or present a test result.
Authorities will be in a position to help event organisers to authenticate the vaccine certificates of attendees.
The events themselves are only open by pre-booking - people cannot attend an event on the day, Gauci explained.
Events are not permitted in residential properties or those properties which are rented out - residential properties are still catered for by restrictions on public gatherings.
The events must also have staggered entry and exit and no breaks or intermissions.
If food is being served, it must be served directly to the table - buffets are still not allowed. Smoking is also not permitted in the event area.
The seating also needs to be mapped so that if there is a case, it can be traced to the specific area.
The press conference can be followed live below, and the article will be updated accordingly.