With the heat slowly rolling in, the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions seems like a blessing sent from above!
In a press conference held last month, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that most of the country’s virus restrictions are to be relaxed from today, Monday 2nd May.
Here's the full list of relaxed restrictions:
1. Quarantine
Self-isolation is only compulsory for those individuals that test positive for the virus.
The quarantine period for positive cases now stands at seven days. If they test negative on their last day of isolation, they can come out of self-isolation. If they test positive, they will have to quarantine for an extra three days.
Household members and those sharing the same social bubbles of the positive case will not be obliged to self-isolate. Although, it is still recommended by authorities that they exercise caution at home and get tested three days after the positive result.
There is one exception to this rule; when the case tests positive in a care home or hospital.
2. Masks
As of today, masks will no longer be required in almost all establishments.
The authorities recommend that masks are still worn in crowded areas and on public transport.
There are some exceptions to this rule: hospitals, care homes, flights, and medical institutions.
3. Travel
Travelers arriving in Malta from countries on the red or dark red list will not be required to undergo mandatory quarantine.
This is as long as they are fully vaccinated, can present a COVID-19 recovery certificate, or are in possession of a valid negative COVID-19 test.
Passenger locator forms will only be required from travelers arriving from red or dark red countries.
The relaxing of measures, unfortunately, doesn't mean that the virus is over.
Government-provided COVID-19 testing will still be offered for free, and all swabbing centres will remain open, apart from the one in Hal Farrug, which is now closed.
The 111 and 145 COVID-19 helplines will also remain in operation. The opening hours have been changed to 7am – 6pm from Mondays to Saturdays, and 7am – 4pm on Sundays and public holidays.