Closure of non-essential shops & services: which businesses have been hit?

On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced the closure of non-essential shops and services, in addition to a host of other measures introduced to stem the rising spread of COVID-19.

Asked to clarify which establishments have been hit, Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci said:

Clothes shops, shops selling sportswear, jewellery, handbag and skincare shops, perfumeries, shops selling beauty products, haberdasheries, shops selling furniture and/or soft furnishings, souvenir shops, discount shops, luggage shops, toy shops and vaping shops must close from tomorrow, 11th March until 11th April.

With regards non-essential services, this refers to hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, spas, nail artists, nail technicians and tattooists must also close for the same period.

In addition to non-essential shops and services, Malta’s gyms have been closed until 11th April.

This is not the first time such businesses have been ordered shut. Local non-essential shops and services were shuttered on 23rd March, and were allowed to reopen early in May.