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Over the past weeks Malta has assisted thousands of residents and tourists who expressed their desire, and in some cases need, to return to their home country. Malta was the first country in Europe to close flights from Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland on the 10th of March 2020.

While this step helped our country contain the spread locally, this has resulted in thousands of individuals being stranded in Malta. As such, Malta offered individuals from these nations to repatriate  through subsidized flights. In fact, 4,206 individuals were repatriated over the past three weeks.

The Maltese Government is now extending the call to all foreign nationals, who either resided or who were here on a temporary visit, and who wish to be repatriated to their home country.

Assistance is also available to European Union citizens and third-country nationals who have been staying in Malta for different purposes such as employment, education and family reasons, among others. Foreign individuals who are not in possession of a residence document are also entitled to assistance.

These individuals are being asked to register their interest to utilise one of these repatriation flights on the following link: https://foreignandeu.gov.mt/apply by Sunday 19^th April 2020.

On Monday 13^th April 2020 a helpline will be launched to assist on queries and telephone registrations.

The dates of these flights will be announced over the coming weeks.

A nominal fee shall apply to all bookings. Individuals who book a seat for a flight but do not turn up shall incur the full cost of the flight.

These flights, especially ones outside of Europe, are heavily subsidized by the Maltese Government as a form of assistance to all foreign individuals on a humanitarian basis.

This scheme is a voluntary one and the Government extends its support to all those individuals, irrespective of nationality, insofar that if they lose their employment or job they will be aided as per earlier notifications.

In view of the ever increasing spread of the COVID-19 and in view of the increasing lockdowns of airports abroad, Maltese nationals currently abroad are urged to make their way to Malta by no later than Sunday 12th April 2020 via London Heathrow or Frankfurt Main, by making use of any available commercial flights. The flight itinerary together with a copy of the passport bio page are to be sent to sitcen.mfea@gov.mt for reservation of repatriation flights from London Heathrow or Frankfurt Main. Persons who choose to remain abroad after the 12th April 2020, will remain at their own risk. The Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs cannot guarantee repatriation after this date.

The above also applies to third country nationals in possession of a valid Maltese residence permit. For reservation of repatriation flights, a copy of the passport and residence card is to be submitted together with the flight itinerary on sitcen.mfea@gov.mt.

Persons who are unable to travel because of imposed lock downs are to inform the Ministry on sitcen.mfea@gov.mt. Those who have are already registered with the Ministry are also urged to send an email with an update of their current status.

The Situation Centre at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs remains available from 08:00hrs to 20:00hrs from Monday to Sunday and can be reached by phone on 00356 2204 2200. Reservations for repatriation flights will only be accepted by email.

The Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) is the regulator ensuring that wages and work conditions are being safeguarded. Prior to implementing changes, the Department needs to grant permission to all those companies which find themselves in a position where they cannot retain the usual wages and normal conditions for their employees.

Government, through its third financial aid package announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela, committed itself to provide EUR800 as a wage supplement to employees working in those sectors affected most by the Covid-19 reality. Employers have committed to contribute as well.

Therefore, if an employee receives a salary of EUR1200 a month, the sum is shared as follows: the government will be contributing EUR800 a month and the employer would need to allocate the other EUR400 a month.

If the salary is EUR1,000 a month, then the government would contribute EUR800 a month and the employer would need to allocate EUR200 a month. If the salary is EUR1,600 a month, then the government would contribute EUR800 a month and the employer would need to allocate another EUR800, but still at a minimum of EUR400 as agreed with the MCESD.

A new helpline managed by DIER has been launched to assist all those employees and employers with queries about work conditions in Covid-19 times. The helpline numbers are as follows: 1575 for employees and 1576 for employers.

Through this helpline one may seek advice about a number of different issues such as work conditions, quarantine leave, payment rates, reduced hours, unpaid leave, forced leave and collective redundancies. These helplines will be available from Monday to Friday, between 08:00 and 16:00. Anyone needing to clarify issues may also do so via email on info.dier@gov.mt. The helplines will be operated by a team of 16 professionals with 8 people per line.

The Department also prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions focusing on work conditions in the light of the Covid-19 situation.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry for Health is providing further information on the decision announced earlier today regarding the closure of non-essential retail outlets and the closure of outlets providing non-essential services.

Upon the order of the Superintendent of Public Health, as from the 23 March 2020 at 8am, the closure of all shops whereby their principal business relates to the selling of:

• Clothing
• Sportswear
• Jewellery
• Hand bags and leather goods
• Costume jewellery and accessories
• Footwear
• Non-prescription eyewear
• Perfumeries
• Beauty products
• Haberdasheries
• Soft furnishings
• Household appliances
• Souvenir shops
• Discount stores
• Luggage shops
• Toy shops
• Hobby shops
• Furniture
• Florists and vaping shops, shall be observed.

This decision applies to the above mentioned shops whether operating in shopping malls and/or elsewhere.

These shops may still sell and provide delivery services of their products in the community.

As announced earlier today, Government is also requesting with effect from the said date and time the closure of outlets providing non-essential services, namely hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, spas, nail artists, nail technicians and tattooists.

Fines of €3000 will be imposed each time these new measures are breached.

These decisions are necessary for the current stage of Covid-19 in Malta and aimed at safeguarding the health of the general public.

Co-operation is in the best interest of all.

In view of the first cases of community spread of Covid-19, Government has announced the following decisions:

As from Monday 23^rd March 2020 at 8am, non-essential retail will be stopped. This includes outlets selling clothes, toys, electronics and household goods, among others. Excluded from this prohibition are supermarkets, bakeries, groceries and pet shops, among others.

Non-essential services will also be stopped. This includes hairdressers, beauticians and tattooists, among others. Excluded from this prohibition are postal services, medical services, transport services and banks.

Also, as from Monday 23^rd March 2020 at 8am, any type of organized public and mass gatherings will be prohibited.

A fine of €3000 euro will be imposed for each time these obligations are breached.

The announced decisions are suitable for the current stage of Covid-19 and aimed at safeguarding the health of the general public.

All passenger flights inbound to Malta will be temporarily suspended after 23.59hrs of the 20^th March 2020. In this regard, the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs is trying to assist those persons who have a Maltese passport and/or valid Maltese Residence Permit to return to Malta from areas where scheduled flights have been or will be cancelled. 

Travellers who do not manage to return to Malta by midnight between the 20^th and 21^st March, are urged to contact the Situation Centre at the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) by not later than Saturday 21st March. The contact details of the Situation Centre are Tel: +356 2204 2200 and Email: sitcen.mfea@gov.mt.

The Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs also wishes to recall that on March 13, Malta introduced a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for all arrivals into Malta. This affects returning residents and all persons arriving in Malta.

A financial package of almost €2 billion was unveiled by Prime Minister Robert Abela to assist businesses in the wake of Covid-19 spread. While keeping the health aspect of the Maltese and Gozitans as an absolute priority, Government is also safeguarding  the country’s economy which guarantees the livelihood of the people of Malta and Gozo.

Every single measure is costed as well as sustainable:

• Financial package of €1.6 billion to offer liquidity to businesses, sub-divided into €700 million in tax deferrals, €900 million in loan guarantees;
• It is envisaged that the postponement of income-tax, VAT and National Insurance contributions  for March and April, of both employers and self-employed, will top-up between  €400 and  €700 million;
• By virtue of the National Fund for Social Development, up to €150 million will be forked out for bank guarantees.

A direct injection of  €210 million (1.5% of the GDP) will strengthen the economy and safeguard employment as follows:

• An increase of  €35 million towards Health Authorities to combat Covid-19. Financial assistance towards this measure is unlimited;
• A grant of €350 will be give to employers for every employee on quarantine leave;
• An additional two-month paid leave at the rate of €800 monthly to 12,000 families where both parents are employed and where teleworking does not apply and thus one of the parents has to take care of the children. This measure cost  €16 million.Between 20,000 and 44,000 workers, employed with entities mostly hit by the suspension of operation due to the government’s decisions to protect the health of those within the sectors of accommodation, restaurants, entertainment and language schools, will be paid for two days a week based on €800 monthly – this measure will amount  up to  €3 million weekly;
• Within the same framework, those self-employed, about 5,700, who operate in the above-mentioned sectors, will be paid for two days a week, based on €800 monthly, whereas those who employ more workers will be paid for 3 days a week;
• Enterprises which registered operational loss of 25% will be given a payment for one day a week based on  €800 monthly – around 47,500 workers will benefit from this measure. This financial measure will cost  €1.6 million weekly.
• About 9,600 self-employed who suffered a drop of 25% or more in their operations will be receiving payment for a day per week based on €800 monthly. Those who will be offering employment to more workers will be paid for 2 days per week – this measure tops up to €450,000 weekly.
• As from 9th March 2020, workers who already lost or may lose their jobs, will benefit from a new temporary measure of €800 monthly:
• Disabled persons who are impaired from performing  work from home, and are constrained to remain at home due to Covid-19, will received €800 monthly.
• Tenants who will be losing their jobs, and were previously illegible from the rent subsidy, will now be covered by this assistance.
• Government will also increase the rent subsidy to sole dependents who were already receiving rent subsidy but might now lose their job;
• Those enterprises which will be terminating employment of an employee, will not be allowed to offer alternative working contracts to third-country nationals;
• Malta will no longer accept applications from third-country  nationals unless they are highly-skilled;
• Assistance will be given for alternative employment to Third-country nationals losing their jobs;
• Jobplus launched a service to assist jobless residents and Third-country nationals with regards to working permits. Jobplus will also assist employers to find new staff. 

Government has announced more measures upon the recommendations of health authorities.

With effect from Tuesday 17^th March at 11:59pm, all bars (excluding take-away), restaurants (excluding deliveries), gymnasiums, clubs, cinemas and tombola halls must remain closed. 

With immediate effect, the fines for persons who do not respect the mandatory quarantine as directed by Government will increase from 1000 euro to 3000 euro for each time this obligation is breached.

Meanwhile, residents of Malta who are currently abroad are encouraged to return back home as soon as possible. Likewise, tourists who are in Malta and planning to leave, should do so imminently.

Government reaffirms its appeal for responsibility and cooperation by the general public to ensure that Malta succeeds in keeping a low curve of Covid-19 cases.

The requirement for individuals to observe a mandatory quarantine is being extended to all individuals who are entering Malta, irrespective of the country of departure.

This is in line with the Government’s determination to prioritise the health and well-being of the population of Malta and Gozo, and to keep the present situation under control

This means that, effective immediately as from 13th March 2020, all individuals entering Malta will be required to observe a 14-day obligatory quarantine.

Individuals who do not observe this obligatory quarantine will be liable to a fine amounting to €1,000 for each instance of non-observance. 

The mandatory quarantine will be enforced by regular and random spot checks by the Malta Police Force.

Meanwhile, should third country nationals working in Malta breach the quarantine directive, in addition to the standard €1,000 fine, their work permit will also be revoked, leading to deportation.

1. With immediate effect, standing passengers on board buses will not be allowed. 
2. Buses are cleaned every night. During the past two weeks, the cleaning of buses has been intensified using chemicals instead of regular detergents. Furthermore, the company has implemented an additional cleaning schedule of the buses during the day, especially in the driver cabin area.
3. The company has provided personal hand sanitizer bottles to all employees that have direct contact with the public, including bus drivers, and has installed wall-mounted hand sanitizers in all its facilities.
4. Bus drivers have been instructed to open all windows inside the buses, and to switch off air-conditioning systems, as requested by the authorities.
5. As of Thursday 12 March, the company adopted a “No Change” policy to limit the amount of cash that is exchanged between passengers and drivers. Therefore, passengers are required to provide exact change when buying their tickets. 
6. The company has taken all the necessary precautions that have been announced by the Government. This includes travel and quarantine restrictions. 

The mother of the family which resulted positive to Coronavirus in Malta’s first case, last Saturday, has now recovered.

The health authorities confirm that tests carried out over a time span of 24 hours have resulted negative. Therefore, according to the established guidelines, the woman is considered to have recovered from Coronavirus.

The woman will be discharged from Mater Dei Hospital and will be kept in quarantine at her residence for a few more days as a precaution while health authorities keep following the situation.

Meanwhile, all persons in Malta who have been confirmed positive to COVID-19 are in good condition.

Government reaffirms its appeal to the general public for the observance of directions and advice issued by health authorities, among others the mandatory quarantine as announced, the cancellation of public mass events and unneccessary travel, and the elderly staying at home as much as possible.

Government is following attentively all developments related to the global outbreak of COVID-19 and is now in a position to announce the following decisions:

As from Friday 13^th March 2020, all schools (primary, secondary, post-secondary and tertiary) and childcare centers will be closed for a week.

A review of the situation will then be made and respective directives will be issued.

Meanwhile, with immediate effect, public mass events cannot be held. The public is advised not to attend any activities of the sort.

In collaboration with the Malta Football Association, all football matches of the Premier, First, Second, Third Divisions together with the U19 league, will be played behind closed doors.

Government and health authorities are closely following the developing situation in countries of transmission.

It is evident that the COVID-19 outbreak is increasing exponentially in France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany. Therefore, after taking the necessary medical advice, Government has decided to stop all air and sea travelling from and to these countries as from 23:59 of 11^th March.

The only permitted connection between Malta and these countries will be for the transport of goods and food.

As from today, 11^th of March, persons who enter Malta from France, Spain, Switzerland and Germany will be subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine. 

On the other hand, persons who have been in Italy, China (including Hong Kong), Singapore, Japan, Iran and South Korea, from 27 February 2020 onwards, will be subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine upon their entry into Malta. This period starts from the last day that these persons were in any of these countries.

The mandatory quarantine will be enforced through regular police spot-checks and failure to observe this obligation will result in a fine of €1,000 for each time it is breached.

Government will not tolerate any irresponsible attitude from persons who try to avoid the mandatory quarantine.

There is no need for alarm. The situation is under control. Malta is prepared for every eventuality.

Air Malta has today suspended its daily flight to Milan until further notice due to the current situation in Northern Italy amid the Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak, following the lockdown decree issued by the Italian Government.

Whilst calling for calm, the Airline stated that the US’ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation do not suggest restricting flights to and from Milan in their recommendations.

However, on consultation with the Prime Minister, the responsible Minister and Government agencies, the management of Air Malta has resolved to take this decisive action as a measure of reassurance.

“The safety of our passengers, crew and staff, and the concerns raised by the people of Malta is our first priority”, said the Airline in a statement issued tonight.

All passengers affected by the cancellation of flights will be notified.

The airline is constantly monitoring the evolving situation and will announce any changes as they arise.

The Health Authorities are confirming that the parents of the child who tested positive earlier this morning have also resulted positive for COVID-19. The parents had already been isolated at Mater Dei Hospital with the child earlier today.

This situation is contained within the family which followed advice by the Health Authorities and, since returning from Italy, remained in self-quarantine. 

We would like to reassure the public that these cases are being kept in isolation.

To date, 181 tests have been carried out on people who were travelling in affected areas and developed symptoms. Only the 3 above family members tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition, 157 tests have also been carried as part of the surveillance programme and tested negative for COVID-19.

We would like to remind the public that there is no need for alarm and to take the necessary preventive measures of washing hands regularly, covering nose and mouth with a tissue or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing and staying home if sick. For further information, you may call the COVID-19 helpline on 111. 

Still no cases of Coronavirus in Malta. The general public will continue to be regularly informed of all the preparations through such press briefings.

This morning the Deputy Prime Minister presided over an inter-Ministerial meeting on Coronavirus.

Various Ministries and Government entities participated in this meeting.