Restaurants & snack bars support scheme

Abstract

As in other EU members, the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta has been characterised by several 'waves' of cases. The first wave of cases occurred between March and May2020, and many businesses, including restaurants, were ordered to close. Business units re-opened in May 2020, however cases began to increase again in July 2020, this climb in cases was reversed in November 2020, however cases climbed again in December 2020 and continued to do so up until February 2021. In terms of new cases, active cases and deaths, each of these three wave was worse than the one that preceded it. Whilst the first wave of cases resulted in the closure of several businesses, such closures were limited between July 2020 and February 2021. Bars were one of the few sectors that were closed during this period, however snack bars and restaurants were allowed to remain open. As COVID-19 cases reached record levels, it was announced that restaurants and snack bars were to close on March 5, 2021; they were however allowed to continue providing take-aways. In response to this forced closure, the Government announced a state measure to provide this sector with financial support.