Malta Publishes Quasi-Lockdown Legal Notices: Here’s Everything That Must Close Down
Malta has published a raft of legal notices to clarify exactly which businesses aren’t allowed to open their doors to customers during the quasi-lockdown period.
Shops classified as “non-essential” incorporate those whose principal business relates to the selling of clothing, sportswear, jewelry, handbags and leather goods, costume jewellery and accessories, footwear, non-prescription eye-wear, perfumeries, beauty products.
It also includes haberdasheries, soft furnishing stores, souvenir shops, discount stores, luggage shops, toy shops, hobby shops, furniture shops, florists, and vaping shops.
Prime Minister Robert Abela announcing a quasi-lockdown earlier this week
Hairdressers, massage parlours, barbers, beauticians, spas, nail artists, nail technicians and tattooists have all been classified as non-essential too.
While their doors must remain closed to customers, they will be allowed to continue operating through delivery services.
Cinemas, theatres, gyms, museums, exhibitions, open-air markets, casinos, bingo halls and all non-residential indoor and outdoor swimming pools must also close.
Organised sports are banned, but Superintendent of Public Charmaine Gauci has been empowered to issue exemptions for Maltese national teams, including for international games.
The rules limiting travel between Malta and Gozo also confirm exemptions for people who need to travel for work, to visit family members, or for medical reasons, and for commercial vehicles and merchandise. People will also be allowed to cross the islands to return to their ordinary or registered residence.
All legal notices are valid until 11th April.
Everyone found breaking the new COVID-19 rules must pay a €6,000 fine.
What do you make of the new rules?
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