From Friday, 22nd May, restaurants will be allowed to reopen, with a maximum seating of six per table, and a specified distance between tables. Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said further restrictions will also be announced, and that preferably restaurants with outdoor space should make use of this.

Bars will not be allowed to reopen, but snack bars and cafeterias are grouped with restaurants and will be allowed to re-open from Friday. 

In addition, hairdressers, barber shops, beauticians and nail salons will be able to re-open – with restrictions to protect both employees and clients.

In the cultural sphere, open cinemas are allowed to reopen. In the area of sports, individual, non-contact sports will be allowed to continue from next Friday, such as diving, tennis and more.

The number of people allowed to meet in public has been increased from four to six, while also observing social distancing where possible. With regards exercise, outdoor classes can take place with a group of six.

Funeral masses may also commence as of next Friday, with limited attendance.

Mr Fearne said non-COVID-19 related health services will again be offered, reflecting the improved situation locally.

Prime Minister Robert Abela, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne and Superintendence for Public Health Charmaine Gaci made the announcement jointly at a press conference on Monday night.

Last Sunday, Dr Abela had announced that segments of the economy would be reopened in the coming week, such as restaurants and hairdressers.

Prof Gauci said all establishments will be required to provide hand sanitiser or alcohol scrub. She said that in beauty salons and other indoor establishments offering services, there must be a distance of two metres between customers, and where this is not possible Perspex should be used. She also added such establishments must use an appointment system, preventing people from congregating in waiting rooms.

On the use of beaches and bays, Prof Gauci said it is important that a distance of 2 metres is also followed between different groups. Outdoor pools will be allowed to open under half capacity. 

Restaurants, bars, cinemas and other public places were closed on 18th March, as the Government tightened restrictions after Malta reported its first cases of local COVID-19 transmission on 16th March.

“From next Monday, we will begin to come back to normality, which is what myself, (Health Minister) Chris Fearne and (Superintendence for Public Health) Charmaine Gauci want, together with the rest of the country.”

He said that what has been announced is the next logical step, and that the health of all residents of Malta and Gozo is not being placed in jeopardy.

“We will not risk the health of the people, and risk losing the successes we achieved since 7th March (when the pandemic hit Malta),” he said.

Dr Abela stressed that the relaxing of measures has been actioned after a careful balancing of health and economic considerations.

Improving the quality of life of people is behind what is driving this next wave of measures, the Prime Minister said.

For those establishments which will be allowed to reopen, the most important thing is that such places are safe and secure, he said.

He said further measures should be announced “in the coming days”.

A protocol will be issued for all activities announced today, which will be explained by Professor Gauci.

“Do not allow yourselves to be conditioned by fear,” Dr Abela stressed, adding that the most important is for people to be rational, weighing risks and benefits based on objective facts.

Such facts, he said, are the low rate of active numbers on the island, that Malta is adequately prepared for the virus in terms of health care facilities and that many hospital beds are empty and that the majority of those infected did not experience life-threatening symptoms.

“It does not make sense that within this context, we keep the island shut or just leave a small window open,” he said.

“Hopefully, we are speaking about the coming weeks, but measures to be announced in the coming weeks will be guided by the principles of balance and reason.”

He said if the authorities start to see the situation deteriorating, measures will be applied appropriately, as was done when the pandemic hit Malta.

Another principle which has guided decisions, Dr Abela said, is education, and a “protocol” will be launched to educate the people on guidelines to follow, avoiding the need for imposing fines.

“Let us teach people, rather than impose fines,” he said. Currently, fines are levied for groups of over four people meeting publicly. There are also fines for those who breach mandatory quarantine.