Two establishments, no licenced accommodation in Gozo found breaking the law in Carnival

Two establishments were found in breach of Malta’s Covid-19 restrictions over the carnival weekend, after over 3,000 inspections were carried out, the Tourism Ministry said on Monday.

In a statement, the Tourism Ministry said that ever since the new regulations to restrict the Covid-19 pandemic came into force for the month of February, a total of 6,000 inspections were carried out by the Malta Tourism Authority’s enforcement agency.

The new restrictions were implemented for the month of February amidst fears that the carnival weekend – which was last weekend – could have resulted in increased crowding and social mingling, much like the period over Christmas, and in turn result in a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Among the measures put in place were that restaurants must close by 11pm; that bars and clubs will remain closed for the month of February, and that the tourism authority was to inspect rented accommodation (holiday homes) in Gozo to make sure that they adhere to the parameters set out in their licenses, especially with regard to the number of people inside.

The Ministry said that in Malta, 1,885 inspections were carried out on establishments between 11 and 14 February, and two establishments were found open after the closing time established by law.

Another establishment, meanwhile, is being investigated by the police.

During the same weekend, the ministry said that 802 out of the 1,255 licensed accommodation places in Gozo were inspected by the MTA, equating to 65% of all licensed accommodation, during which nobody was found to be breaking the law.

475 inspections at restaurants and establishments in Gozo also found nobody breaking the law.