Mandatory wearing of face masks is back as from Saturday as the number of daily registered cases, active cases and hospitalisations has shot up.

Malta has registered 2,240 cases of Covid-19 in the last 28 days, according to statistics on the Johns Hoskins University website dedicated to the disease. There have also been eight deaths.

On Thursday, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that as from Saturday, people must wear a mask in public even if they are on their own.

This was the only restriction re-introduced by the government as Malta prepares to celebrate the Christmas period.

It generated some controversy with people asking why such a move was necessary given that more than 90 per cent of the people have been vaccinated, while many have also received the third booster dose.