Bars in Malta & Gozo to remain closed until 1st February

The re-opening of bars and clubs in Malta and Gozo has been set back by another month, to the 1^st February. The news was announced today by Prof. Charmaine Gauci during a press conference.

The Legal Notice to this effect will be published later today.

The Maltese Government first announced the shutdown of bars and clubs at the end of October, as part of the new measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

The legal notice regulating bars’ closure was then extended from 1^st December to 1^st January in response to the consistently high figure of cases being found. 

Bar owners had previously lamented the short notice given for their closure and re-opening, noting the challenges this posed, especially as regards to stock.

Earlier in the day, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that the first case of the UK-variant of COVID-19 had been registered in Malta.