Free to entertain: vaccine certificates no longer required at bars, cinemas & gyms

People wishing to visit bars, cinemas, casino, theatre, gyms and spas are no longer required to present their vaccine certificate to be allowed entry, as the latest update to gradually receding COIVD-19 restrictions kicks in.

More measures designed to curb the spread of COVID-19 are being lifted from Monday 14th February (today)

Last week, the requirement to present a valid COVID-19 vaccine certificate (booster included) upon entry to restaurants, każini and snack bars was removed, after the Government committed what was widely seen as a u-turn and scrapped rules introduced just three weeks prior.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne said that this measure could only be lifted because of the strong take-up of the booster vaccination and the decreasing number of new cases.

Over the weekend there were 223 new cases of COVID-19, while 10 persons died while infected with the virus.

The current number of total active cases in Malta is well under 2,000.

Certain restrictions remain. Clients cannot enter establishments while they are sick, and temperatures and personal details must still be taken.

In the case of bars, cinemas and theatres, everyone must be seated. If there are more than 300 people, social distancing measures need to be enforced.

Additionally, bars must close between 1am and 5am.

Also from today, persons travelling to Malta from a ‘dark red’ country and who have a valid vaccine certificate have their quarantine period reduced from 14 to 10 days, a move that will be welcomed by employers.