Following the announcement that certain non-essential retail would be allowed to open their doors to the public as of last Monday, Superintendent for Public Health Charmaine Gauci was asked whether restaurants can expect a similar announcement soon.

Prime Minister Robert Abela, when announcing the opening of non-essential retail and the mandatory use of face masks inside shops, had said that if all goes well the state wishes to see a majority of shops and businesses open by the end of May.

Asked by the press about whether restaurants can expect to open soon, Prof Gauci confirmed that currently an assessment is underway on the impacts of the first wave of relaxation measures. She reiterated that a three-week assessment is taking place on the impact of the latest measures, after which a determination will be made on whether to allow more establishments to open.

She stressed that all decisions taken during this ‘transition strategy’ is taking place on rigorous risk assessments.

Prof Gauci announced two new cases of the virus and six further recoveries, bringing the total number of active cases to 68 and total number of reported cases to 468.

Restaurants in Germany, Italy and Spain have just begun to reopen restaurants under various restrictions, such as the use of outdoor spaces and the limiting of tables a restaurant may set up.

Malta's ports remain shut to travel, only bringing in essential goods and allowing humanitarian flights. In a previous interview, Julian Sammut, Director of Kitchen Concept - a local group bringing together several popular restaurants such as Chophouse, Cuba and Vecchia Napoli -  enters into an in-depth discussion about whether local demand can prop up the restaurant industry in the absence of tourists. To read on, click here.