Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne to address press conference at 2.30pm

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne is to address a press conference at 2.30pm on Tuesday (today), just days after he, together with Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci, announced that Malta will not be allowing unvaccinated visitors to the island as of Wednesday 14th July (tomorrow).

The measure was introduced in response to rising case numbers, with Malta registering 434 new COVID cases in the last three days alone.

The move to ban unvaccinated travellers to Malta, with the Government only accepting those in possession of vaccine certificates issued by Malta, the UK and the EU, has been decried as “discriminatory” by the European Commission because of its impacts on freedom of movement across the EU, a core principle of the 27-nation bloc.

During last Friday’s press briefing, it was also announced that language schools would have to close their doors after nine were found to have COVID positive cases. Government officials have said a large number of recent cases deals with unvaccinated persons and those visiting the island to study or for leisure.

Notably, Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci will not be present at today’s press briefing, neither will Prime Minister Robert Abela, who was not present for the announcement on vaccinated travellers either.

While no agenda has been provided by the Department of Information notice advising of Tuesday’s 2.30pm press conference, such events have largely been used to announce new or easing of restrictions in relation to COVID-19.