More restrictions are to be eased as from 7 March as Malta gets on with its Covid exit roadmap, Health Minister Chris Fearne said Thursday.

Addressing journalists during a press conference which involved the inauguration of another health centre in Gżira, Minister Fearne said that establishments whose licence allows them to operate longer than 1am will be able to remain open after that hour.

He said that if the situation remains as it is today, schoolchildren will no longer be required to wear masks when they return to school after the Easter holidays. A final decision will be taken later on.

As from 14 March it will no longer be obligatory to wear masks in public spaces, except in mass events.

As from 11 April, all standing events can be held without restrictions if held outdoors, but only for vaccinated people if activities held indoors. This means that Good Friday processions can be held as per pre-pandemic days.

Quarantine Restrictions

From 7 March, primary contacts of positive cases who are vaccinated will no longer be required to quarantine.

Vaccinated people who test positive for Covid-19 will be required to quarantine for seven days and present a negative test on the seventh day.

Fearne said that secondary contacts of positive cases who are unvaccinated wil not be required to quarantine, whilst primary contacts who are also unvaccinated will be able to exist quarantine after five days following a negative test presented on the fifth day.

Malta will start recognising vaccine certificate approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), even if these are not approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Fearne said.

He also announced that the quarantine period for vaccinated travellers coming from dark red countries will be reduced to seven days from ten.

Answering questions from The Malta Independent about the Steward Health Care, Fearne said that there are no problems with the health service per se, the only issue is that related to the Courts, thus “we should leave it in their hands.”

The Malta Independent reported this week that there are currently no negotiations taking place between the government and Steward Health Care over the hospitals concession agreement.

Asked on the Marsascala marina plans which have now been dropped, Fearne said that “this isn’t wasn’t question of who said what but a joint decision taken by the government.”

Answering questions on standing events and on mass political events, Fearne reiterated his appeal to the public to be responsible and abide by Covid regulations.

Many people within the entertainment industry have argued that it is unfair that certain areas within mass political events are happening without restrictions, whilst entertainment establishments still have to abide by a number of restrictions.

Asked why the entertainment industry has to wait until 11 April for restrictions to be removed, while political events are already being held without restrictions, Fearne once again reiterated his appeal for people to be responsible and said that “it is not fair that there is a free for all situation.”

“The protocols by the Labour Party are being observed. People attending are being asked to register beforehand so that these can be organised into clusters during the event. Naturally, if not everyone cooperates from both parties, problems will arise,” Fearne said.