Maltese restaurants and bars to stay open past midnight

Restrictions on contact sports, fitness classes, water parks and sea transport are lifted or attenuated

From today, residents and tourists in Malta can enjoy longer stays at local restaurants and bars, most of which will be open until 2 am in the hot summer nights, reports TVM. This is part of the latest easing of COVID-19 restrictions where a balance is sought between the increasing tourism demand and the (favourable) epidemiological situation.

According to a previous announcement by Deputy PM and Health Minister Chris Fearne, all restaurants, bars, każini (social clubs) and snack bars that have a licence to operate until 2am, will be allowed to do so from 28 June. Establishments which are required to close before 2am must comply with their licence.

Sea transport, aqua parks, contact sports

Apart from catering and drinking establishments, sea transport can now breathe better, as vessels are allowed to operate at 65 percent capacity according to the number of passengers they can accommodate. Water parks will also reopen.

Contact sports will once again be permitted for all age groups, including those under 17. The same applies to fitness classes which can resume from today.

Visiting hours at Mater Dei Hospital will be extended, with visits now allowed from 11:30am to 1pm, and from 3pm to 8pm.

No new Covid cases and deaths

The new alleviation measures come amid an epidemic lull on the Maltese archipelago. No new cases of Covid-19 and no deaths linked to Covid-19 were reported over the past 24 hours up to Sunday. The number of active cases stands at 28.

Malta remains EU’s vaccination leader with 653,005 doses of the vaccine administered so far (356,128 first dose-recipients and 309,871 persons fully vaccinated). This is assumed to ensure sufficient coverage to 65 percent of the country’s population.