Establishments to close by 1 am and seated events as of Monday 27th

Dec 23 2021

New restrictions were announced during a press conference by Health Minister Chris Fearne which concern events and establishments. As of next Monday 27th December, all events can still be organised but can only take a seated format.

Those events which were done with standing protocols will be stopped and switched to seated events. The only exception to this will be weddings and funerals, which will retain their current protocols.

Apart from this, all establishments will have to close by 1 am as of next Monday as well. This means that even establishments which had the license to close after 1 am will have to abide by this new regulation.

This will apply until the 17th of January, which is when the vaccination measure will come into effect. Sporting events will take place without spectators and effective immediately, visiting hours at Mater Dei will be reduced.

At pension homes, this will not take place as most are vaccinated with the booster doses. Fearne also highlighted that the aim is to reopen schools after the Christmas holidays and encouraged vaccination.

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18+ residents to receive booster invitations from December 27; 41% of adult population already jabbed

41% of adults have received booster jab; 18+ residents to receive invitations from December 27

Dec 23 2021

During today’s conference addressed by Deputy Prime Minister & Health Minister Chris Fearne & Superintendent for Public Health Prof. Charmaine Gauci, it was revealed that 182,000 booster jabs have already been administered in Malta.

This accounts for 41% of Malta’s adult population, with 20% of residents aged between 25 and 29 having received their booster jab. As of Monday December 27, anyone aged 18 and over will start receiving invitations to receive their booster, with Fearne expressing the authorities’ trust in the jab and its efficacy against the Omicron variant. Booster doses can be registered from vaccin.gov.mt.

During today’s conference, the Health Minister also highlighted that vaccine certificates will be valid up to 3 months from the second dose and up to 9 months after receiving the booster dose. As of Monday January 17, most establishments can only be accessed upon presentation of a valid vaccine certificate.H

Have you received your booster dose yet?

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Bars, band clubs, gyms and more to be accessible ONLY with vaccine certificate as of January 17

Dec 23 2021

As of Monday 17 January, bars, snack bars, restaurants, band clubs, gyms, pools, spas, casinos and other halls, cinemas, theatres, sporting events and all other organised events will only be accessible with a valid vaccine certificate. A vaccine certificate will be valid up to 3 months from the second dose and up to 9 months from the third dose, that is the booster jab. For youths aged under 18, the vaccine certificate is valid for up to one year.

This was said in today’s conference addressed by Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne along with Superintendent for Public Health Prof. Charmaine Gauci. During the conference, it was also revealed that Malta has registered its first two cases of the Omicron variant.

Pressure from various groups was being put on the authorities to address Malta’s current COVID-19 situation in the midst of a surge in cases. Fearne called for vigilance in such a situation and urged the public to take the booster whenever they can.

What do you make of these measures?

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First two Omicron cases detected in Malta

Dec 23 2021

The first two cases of the recently discovered Omicron variant of COVID-19 were discovered in Malta yesterday night.

Addressing a press conference, Health Minister Chris Fearne and Superintendent for Public Health Charmaine Gauci announced the news today 23rd of December 2021.

The Health Minister had declared that the arrival of Omicron in Malta was a matter of when, not if, as it is suspected to become the dominant global strain by early next year.

The Omicron variant, which was first discovered in South Africa late November, is far more transmissible than previous variants of COVID-19.

Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated and boosted so as to curb the spread of the virus and its variants as it dominates the world in yet another spike.

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