A new legal notice published Tuesday evening has changed Malta’s controversial ban on unvaccinated arrivals hours before it was set to come into force.

The island will now require unvaccinated arrivals from Amber List countries (which include all EU states) to “submit themselves to a period of quarantine”. It is believed individuals will need to quarantine in an adequate hotel at their own expense, however this hasn’t been confirmed by authorities. 

Children aged five to 11 and those who cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons are also exempt from having to produce a certificate or quarantine, instead having to show a negative PCR test performed no longer than 72 hours before arrival. Children under five need not show anything.

The new measure also does not apply to Maltese residents who had booked their flights while living or visiting a foreign country before the measure was announced last Friday.

The legal notice was announced Tuesday evening, just hours before the controversial ban was set to begin, and comes after criticism from the European Commission over the “discriminatory” ban.

Updated at 11.55am

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