Children between five and 10 are expected to be eligible to receive be vaccinated by mid-December

Cases are on the rise in the country, and a third national lockdown has been imposed

Practically all EU countries are listed as orange or red

Minister Fearne says booster shots having positive impact

With the best vaccination rate in the region, Malta feels that it can sit back and celebrate

According to Deputy PM Chris Fearne, vaccine booster doses could make a 'big difference' locally

Clinical trials indicate the drug reduces the risk of hospitalisation or death from COVID by about half

An initial legal notice had stated that vaccine certificates would initially only be valid for six months

Seated events can do away with social distancing protocols from next Monday

Public transport capacity has also been increased

Bars and restaurants accepting only vaccinated customers will be permitted to relax some of the COVID-related protocols

Republic of Kosovo, Palestine, Bermuda and Bahrain added

Less distance between tables, increased curfew, bar service to be permitted

Malta will also add Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Rwanda to the list of countries it is accepting vaccine certificates from

Government will aim to keep hospital numbers low in an effort to avoid the addition of new restrictions