Quarantine for primary and secondary contacts of positive cases could be removed as from 7 March, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne has announced.

Fearne said that, as from 21 February, quarantine for primary contacts in the same household will be reduced from 10 days to five days, effective as from Monday.

The quarantine period for other primary contacts will be reduced from 7 to 5 days, with a negative test result required after the fifth day. If case numbers remain low, Fearne said, quarantine for primary and secondary contacts will be removed completely as from 7 March.

As from 14 March, the wearing of masks in public open spaces will no longer be obligatory, including for people who are not vaccinated.

Masks, however, will still need to be worn at mass events.

Funerals of people who die while positive for Covid-19 will can be held within 48 hours, instead of 24.

The Deputy Prime Minister also announced that 79% of Malta’s adult population has now been boosted. 42% of children have taken the first dose.

Fearne also said that Malta does not envisage the need for a fourth vaccine this winter.

“As part of the country’s effort to get back to normality, the exit road map ensures that measures are eased slowly,” Fearne said, adding it was not ideal for countries who have removed all restrictions suddenly, as they could face a sudden increase of cases once again.

The country has enough immunity against the virus where for now, there will not be a need for a fourth dose against the virus this winter, said Fearne. He added that by this summer, the aim is to have removed almost all the restrictive measures.

“Influenza cases were also very little this season, due to the mask wearing rules which not only lessened the chance for the spread of the virus but also for the spread of the influenza,” Fearne said.

At present, when a person dies whilst having tested positive for Covid-19, the funeral must be held 24 hours after. Fearne said that after arrangements done to the mortuary room at Mater Dei hospital, the period for burial after death was extended to 48 hours.

The rule also remains that upon death from an infective disease, the coffin cannot be opened for 10 years. Fearne said that there are discussions in process to reduce the period to five years.

Asked whether the measure for children having to wear masks at school will be eased, Fearne said that he is optimistic that there will be a time where the wearing of masks obliged by law will be completely removed.

Fearne said that a high percentage of cases in hospital are not fully vaccinated, adding that out of the three cases in the ITU, only one of them has taken the booster.

He maintained that mass events will have to be organized in a responsible manner.