VALLETTA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Malta on Thursday announced an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, dropping mandatory mask-wearing for people outdoors in groupings of not more than two.
Health Minister Chris Fearne told reporters 70% of Malta residents would have received a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine by the weekend, and therefore medical authorities could relax some curbs from Monday, while adapting others.
He confirmed that as from Jan. 17, most venues including restaurants, bars and gyms, would require patrons to produce a certificate showing they had had a COVID vaccine and a booster.
A rule requiring restaurants to have a space of two metres between tables is being lifted.
However all employees in venues such as restaurants and bars who come into contact with clients must be vaccinated and have had a booster dose. This mandatory requirement, the minister said, would not be extended to other areas.
Spectators are to be allowed to return to sports venues, as long as they produce a vaccination certificate which includes the booster shot.
Fearne said he was very pleased by the strong take-up of boosters, and said walk-in clinics are being set up immediately all around the Maltese islands for people to take their doses, without needing to apply beforehand.
He said that 92% of Malta's Covid cases are now of the Omicron variant, but the situation at hospitals remained well under control. (Reporting by Christopher Scicluna, Editing by William Maclean)
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