During a televised press conference earlier this morning, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that throughout the month of February restaurants will start closing at 11 p.m, and clubs and bars are to remain closed as they have been for the last weeks.

During Carnival week (11 to 17 February), anyone travelling on the Gozo Channel ferry will have his or her temperature taken and the wearing of masks throughout the journey remains compulsory. Prime Minister Abela says that the Gozo Channel ferries they will continue to operate at half passenger capacity. This means that regardless of demand, the number of crossings will not increase during these days. Robert Abela reiterated that this will send a message that this is not a normal February.

In the same period there will be additional patrols in Marsalforn, Nadur, Xlendi and Victoria Gozo. This while the Malta Tourism Authority will also be stepping up patrols and inspections around accommodation establishments to ensure that they are operating under their license terms, meaning that it will ensure that in each accommodation will host a number of people only according to bed capacity.

The Prime Minister continued that given these new restrictions, the Government will increase the aid to bars and clubs from € 1 million to € 2.2 million.