VALLETTA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Malta will continue the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions as the number of new COVID-19 cases remains low, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Thursday.
Fearne told a press conference that restaurants and snack bars can reopen until 5 p.m. from Monday, with the plan for their opening times to be extended until midnight from May 24.
From Thursday, public swimming pools can reopen until 8 p.m. but will be limited to individual swimming. Gyms will also be allowed to reopen with several restrictions.
Day centers for the elderly can start welcoming guests again while contact sports for those over 17 years old can resume, except for team sports.
From June 1, the country will be reopening its doors to tourism, allowing tourists holding vaccine certificates or those who can present a negative coronavirus test before traveling to Malta.
Weddings could resume with up to 100 people indoors or 300 people outdoors apart from other strict protocols.
From June 7, restaurants and snack bars can start accommodating up to six people at each table while cinemas and theatres can reopen their doors to patrons. Bars and gaming outlets will also be able to reopen their doors then.
From June 28, summer schools will be allowed to open, and contact sports will be extended to children under the age of 17.
Fearne said that this plan all depended on the number of new cases. "The measures will only be relaxed if the numbers remain low," he said. Enditem
