More restrictions will be lifted on Monday, Prime Minister says

Further COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted from Monday, Prime Minister Robert Abela said today.

The Prime Minister made the comment during a press conference this afternoon, during which he announced that every adult in Malta will receive a cheque in the coming months as part of a Government stimulus package.

Workers and students will receive €100, while pensioners and those on social benefits will receive €200.

Dr Abela gave no indication of which restrictions would be lifted on February 7th, the day when restaurants, snack bars and social clubs will no longer be required to ask their patrons for a valid vaccine certificate.

Bars, gyms, spas, pools, cinemas and theatres will be able to follow suit the following week, although mass events, sports events, casinos and nightclubs are still subject to the rule that only came into force on 17th January.

In addition, there is a ban on standing events and restrictions are still in place on travel.

The short-lived restrictions on bars, restaurants and so on proved to be highly unpopular amongst affected businesses, their patrons and representative bodies. The Nationalist Party had demanded the rules be revoked, while several hundred people took to the streets of Valletta in protest.