In further tightening travel restrictions to safeguard against the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Health Superintendent has, with effect from the 21st March 2020, extended the Travel Ban Order, which was previously restricted to the countries specified therein, to now include all countries.
This effectively means that as of last Saturday, there is a blanket travel ban on persons to Malta and from Malta to and from all countries. This therefore includes the arrival of yachts carrying crew which were previously not caught by the Port Notice issued by Transport Malta relating to the ban on passenger vessels.
This is subject to the following exceptions:
(a) Cargo flights, ferry flights, humanitarian flights and
repatriation flights
(b) Cargo ships including container ships and ro-ro vessels
carrying goods and essential commodities and tankers loaded with
essential fuels
(c) The Superintendent of Public Health may, in her absolute
discretion, issue an exemption from the order where in her opinion
the travel of certain persons or goods is deemed to be
essential.
In terms of the Travel Ban Order, persons who fail to abide by these provisions shall be guilty of an offence.
The text of the Legal Notice may be accessed here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.