Almost all of Malta’s Covid-19 restrictions will be removed as from today, while the second Covid-19 booster shot will also be offered to those over the age of 65 from today.
As from today, only those who are positive for Covid-19 will need to isolate. They must isolate for seven days following their positive test, and then can emerge from quarantine after a negative test on the seventh day of quarantine.
If they are still positive on the seventh day, they will have to wait another three days before coming out of quarantine.
This measure applies to both those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Primary contacts – including those who live in the same household as a positive case – will, from 2 May, not need to quarantine. However, it is still recommended that those who are living with a positive case avoid contact with them, and also take a swab test three days after the Covid-19 case’s isolation begins.
The exceptions to this rule are in elderly homes and hospitals, where a Covid-19 patient’s roommate will have to stay in isolation as well.
Masks meanwhile will only be obligatory in hospitals, medical clinics, elderly homes, and on board flights – although they are still recommended on closed public transport and in other closed spaces.
When it comes to travelling, the red and dark red zone system will remain: those coming from a red zone can enter Malta with a valid vaccine certificate, a recovery certificate, or a negative swab test under the already established parameters.
However, the Passenger Locator Form necessity will, from today, be removed.
All other measures will, from today also be removed – meaning that social and cultural events can be held under total normality, as can weddings, and that English Language Schools can welcome students normally.
Meanwhile, speaking on Labour Party media on Sunday, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that as from today anyone over the age of 65 can take their second Covid-19 booster shot.
During a programme on One TV, Fearne said that this was being done in order to protect the most vulnerable in society.
In recent weeks it was announced that people with low immunity, residents in nursing homes, and the elderly over the age of 80 could have the second booster dose administered if they wished.
He said that “In the coming days, those over the age of 65, including those over 80 who have have not yet taken it, will be able to get the second booster shot too.”
In explaining how the vaccination is important and why a second dose would be effective, the health minister said that although the first booster has greatly reduced the risks one might face if they caught the virus, having the second booster will bring lessen these risks even further.
“Even though we have had case numbers rising in the community and are now coming down again, ITUs have always remained with few patients. Today we have two, which means that, even if you contract Covid-19, the risk of getting a serious illness decreases. That shrinks with the booster. The second booster will keep you going,” he said.