Full Travel Freedom As Malta Scraps PCR Test Obligation For Unvaccinated People From 25th July
Malta will officially scrap the legal obligation for unvaccinated passengers to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test on 25th July.
Health Minister Chris Fearne announced this development in a statement today following a notice by the ECDC and the European Medicines Agency which recommended an early second booster rollout for people older than 60.
The decision means that, for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malta will essentially have no travel restrictions in place.
As it stands, travellers are supposed to present a valid vaccine certificate, proof of recovery from the virus within the past 180 days, a negative PCR test result obtained no more than 72 hours before arrival or a negative rapid antigen test obtained no more than 24 hours before arrival.
Health Minister Chris Fearne
However, there has been barely any enforcement of this law in recent months and the “health desks” at the arrivals hall of the Malta International Airport were been removed a few months ago.
The PCR test obligation for unvaccinated travellers was also one of Malta’s last remaining COVID-19 restrictions, with the others removed bit by bit throughout the year.
And despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci has dismissed suggestions that Malta could reintroduce certain restrictions, urging vulnerable people to adopt a stance of personal responsibility instead.
Meanwhile, Malta will start offering the second COVID-19 booster to people over 60, expanding the current cohort of over-65s.
Gauci said yesterday that around 50% of Maltese people who are eligible to take the second booster have received it, one of the highest rates in Europe.
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