Travel between Malta and Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain is being banned as from midnight on Wednesday, the government has announced.
The same restriction already applies for travel to and from Italy. The decision has been taken because of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The suspension comes into effect at midnight tonight, Abela said, saying that the decision was taken after an “exponential” rise in the number of cases in these countries.
In a report The Times clarifies that the quarantine orders, health authorities explained that all those who arrived in Malta from Italy and other high-risk countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore and Iran in the past 14 days need to observe mandatory quarantine.
To date they had been advised to observe voluntary quarantine.
Quarantine orders for arrivals from France, Spain, Germany and Switzerland apply for those who arrived today only.
Those who do not follow these instructions will be subject to €1,000 fine. Police will be carrying out regular spot-checks to ensure the mandatory quarantine is being observed and to ensure that infected people abide by these regulations. People will be able to carry out the mandatory quarantine in their own homes, and if there are more people in the household, they will also need to quarantine themselves. The fine is for each and every time someone in quarantine breaks the requirement, Abela said.
Maltese people returning from abroad are to stay at home during the quarantine period, while any tourists who have come to Malta from the five countries must spend their quarantine in their hotel room. The government will be offering a service to people in quarantine to deliver to them food and other necessities.
The Prime Minister said that help will be given to those stuck in these countries after midnight today. He appealed to the public not to travel unnecessarily. The Prime Minister also encouraged the elderly to remain in their homes unless they have to go out.
“We will not tolerate anyone not undergoing quarantine,” the Prime Minister declared. The Prime Minister added that those persons residing in the same home as a person in quarantine also have to remain in quarantine, whilst tourists have to remain in their hotel rooms.
