On Saturday, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that the first phase of an ‘exit roadmap’ to gradually ease COVID-19 health restrictions will be unveiled this upcoming week.
Despite not elaborating that much further, Fearne said that the plan will lay out the dates when certain measures will be removed.
Speaking during an interview on ONE Radio, the Deputy Prime Minister stated how the measures will all be removed at the opportune moment, with hospitals and ITUs remaining under control concerning infections.
With around three-quarters of adults vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe, Fearne also remarked that Malta has one of the lowest rates of people worried by the pandemic.
He reiterated the importance of vaccinating against the virus, revealing that around 3% have still not taken the fist or second dose of the jab, and 20% still to take their booster shot.
Fearne also unveiled that the majority of people who died while COVID positive had not been vaccinated. Speaking about children’s vaccination, the rates is also one of the highest worldwide.
He urged for children in the 5 to 11 age group to get the vaccine, pointing to studies which show that the Omicron variant, which is currently dominant, is leading to more children being hospitalised.
With current restrictions limiting entry to establishments such as bars and restaurants for only vaccinated people and removing masks for groups of less than 2 fully-jabbed individuals, the easing of such measures will be revealed at some point this week.
The news was met with support by hotels and restaurants, with the MHRA even expressing its hopeful stance at the gradual return to normalcy after the measures were met with wide criticism.
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