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In the last few days the Maltese Authorities approved a large number of new legal acts, primarly aimed to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect the public health.

Since its institution, the Maltese Italian Chamber of Commerce is committed in providing information to all the Italians involved on the Maltese territory.

Therefore, we would like to share with our audience all the main measures approved by the Maltese Government and related to the Coronavirus break out.

Laws enacted on 2nd May 2020

CLOSURE OF THE COURTS OF JUSTICE - AMENDMENT No. 2 (L. n. 177) of 2020/05/02
The title of this order is the Closure of the Courts of Justice (Amendment No. 2) Order, 2020, and this order shall be read and construed as one with the Closure of the Courts of Justice Order, herein after referred to as the "principal order".
This order shall come into force on the 4th May, 2020.
In article 3 of the principal order the words "and the registry" shall be deleted.
Any time limits which were suspended prior to the coming into force of the Closure of the Courts of Justice (Amendment No. 2) Order, 2020 shall remain suspended.

EPIDEMICS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE (SUSPENSION OF LEGAL AND JUDICIAL TIMES) - AMENDMENT No. 2 (L. n. 176) of 2020/05/02
The title of this order is the Epidemics and Infectious Disease (Suspension of Legal and Judicial times) (Amendment No.2) Order, 2020, and this order shall be read and construed as one with the Epidemics and Infectious Disease (Suspension of Legal and Judicial Times) Order, herein after referred to as the "principal order".
This order shall come into force on the 4th May 2020.
In sub-article (2) of article 3 of the principal order, the words "the opening of its registry," shall be deleted.
Any time limits which were suspended prior to the coming into force of the Epidemics and Infectious Disease (Suspension of Legal and Judicial times) (Amendment No. 2) Order, 2020 shall remain suspended.

MANDATORY NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL BETWEEN MALTA AND GOZO - REVOCATION (L. n. 175) of 2020/05/02
The title of this order is the Mandatory Non-essential Travel between Malta and Gozo (Revocation) Order, 2020.
The Mandatory Non-essential Travel between Malta and Gozo Order, is hereby revoked with effect from the 4th May 2020.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDER RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF PERSONS IN PUBLIC SPACES REGULATIONS - AMENDMENT (L. n. 174) of 2020/05/02
The title of these regulations is the Enforcement of the order relating to the Number of Persons in Public Spaces Regulations (Amendment), 2020 and these regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Enforcement of the order relating to the Number of Persons in Public Spaces Regulations,
In regulation 4 of the principal regulations, immediately after the words "Public Spaces Order" there shall be added the words" and the Number of Persons in Public Spaces (Increase in Number of Persons) Order, 2020.". 
In regulation 5 of the principal regulations, immediately after the words "Public Spaces Order" there shall be added the words" and the Number of Persons in Public Spaces (Increase in number of persons) Order, 2020.".

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN PUBLIC SPACES (INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PERSONS) (L.n. 173) of 2020/05/02
The title of this order is the Number of Persons in Public Spaces (Increase in Number of Persons) Order, 2020.
This order shall come into force on the 4th May, 2020.
In furtherance to the third provision of article 3 of the Number of Persons in Public Spaces Order, the Superintendent of Public Health is hereby increasing the number of persons in public spaces to four (4) persons.

CLOSURE OF NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL OUTLETS AND OUTLETS PROVIDING NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES - AMENDMENT (L. n. 172) of 2020/05/02
The title of this order is the Closure of Non-Essential Retail Outlets and Outlets Providing Non-essential Services (Amendment) Order, 2020 and this order shall be read and construed as one with the Closure of Non-Essential Retail Outlets and Outlets Providing Non-essential Services Order, hereinafter referred to as "the principal order".
This order shall come into force on the 4th May, 2020.
Sub-article (1) of article 3 of the principal order shall be substituted by the following: 
"(1) The Superintendent of Public Health hereby orders the closure of all vaping shops, whether operating in shopping malls and/or elsewhere:".

CLOSURE OF PLACES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - AMENDMENT No. 2 (L. n. 171) of 2020/05/02
The title of this order is the Closure of Places Open to the Public (Amendment No. 2) Order, 2020 and this order be read and construed as one with the Closure of Places Open to the Public Order, here in after referred to as the "principal order".
This order shall come into force on the 4th May, 2020. 
In article 2 of the principal order the words ", lotto booths" shall be deleted.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDER REALATING TO CLOSURE OF NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL OUTLETS AND OUTLETS PROVIDING NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES - AMENDMENT - REGULATIONS (L. n. 170) of 2020/05/02
The title of these regulations is the Enforcement of the order relating to Closure of Non-Essential Retail Outlets and Outlets Providing Non-Essential Services (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 and these regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Enforcement of the order relating to Closure of Non-Essential Retail Outlets and Outlets Providing Non-Essential Services Regulations, hereinafter referred to as the "principal regulations".
In regulation 4 of the principal regulations, immediately after the words "Non-Essential Services Order, there shall be added the words "and the Closure of Non-Essential Retail Outlets and Outlets Providing Non-Essential Services (Amendment) Order, 2020.".
In regulation 5 of the principal regulations, immediately after the words "Non-Essential Services Order" there shall be added the words "and the Closure of Non-Essential Retail Outlets and Outlets Providing Non-Essential Services (Amendment) Order, 2020.".

Laws enacted on 28th April 2020

SUSPENSION OF LEGAL AND JUDICIAL TIMES - AMENDMENT (L. n. 162) of 2020/04/28
The title of these regulations is the General Provisions applying to the Suspension of Legal and Judicial Times (Amendment) Regulations 2020, and these regulations shall be read and construed as one with the General Provisions applying to the Suspension of Legal and Judicial Times Regulations, 2020, hereinafter referred to as the “principal regulations”.
These regulations shall also  suspend the running of any time period established in any agreement
(whether a private writing or a public deed), including any time period for the performance of any obligation set out in such agreement, if and to the extent that the Closure of the Courts of Justice Order has a direct effect on the ability of any party to exercise its rights or to perform its obligations thereunder;
Sub-regulation 4 thereof, as renumbered, shall be substituted by the following new sub-regulation:
"Any time period suspended pursuant to sub-regulation, shall remain suspended until the twentieth (20th) day following the repeal of the said order of the Superintendent and shall thereafter continue to run".
The suspension established by means of these regulations and its effects shall be deemed to have started to run from 16th March 2020.

Laws enacted on 21th April 2020

CONTINUATION OF ESSENTIAL SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES (L. n. 149) of 2020/04/21
In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Act" means the Social Care Standards Authority Act; 
"Authority" means the Social Care Standards Authority as established by virtue of article 5 of the Act;
"Essential social welfare services" means the social welfare services which are published in the list of licensed social welfare providers in accordance with article 20(1) and article 20(2) of the Act and which are listed under the following categories: 
a) Residential Services Offered to Individuals with problems related to substance, abuse and other dependencies;
b) Residential Social Welfare Services - Adults; 
c) Residential Services for Children in Alternative Care; 
d) Residential Services for Persons with Disability;
e) Residential Social Welfare Services for Older Persons; 
f) Respite Services for Persons with Disability; 
g) Shelter and Temporary Accommodation for Adults;
h) Older Persons with Dementia;
i) Residential Services for Domestic Violence;
"Exceptional circumstances" shall have the same meaning assigned to it in accordance with the Granting of an Emergency Licence in Exceptional Circumstances Regulations;
"Management" means a person or persons who act on behalf of the service provider to provide leadership to staff and to oversee and control the proper functioning of the services offered;
"Staff" means a person engaged by the service provider, wherein one of the person’s responsibilities is to provide social and healthcare support to service users. 
The essential social welfare services as defined in article 2 shall continue to fully operate and function in exceptional circumstances.
In such exceptional circumstances, the management and staff working in such essential social welfare services shall keep providing their services. 
During such exceptional circumstances, such essential social welfare service providers are to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority any significant changes to the service including, those relating to operational matters, the provision of services, contingency plans or amendments thereof, live-in arrangements of staff and all major incidents involving the staff and service users.

DEFEREMENT OF EXCISE DUTY PAYABLE DURING THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND MAY 2020 (L. n. 147) of 2020/04/21
The title of these regulations is the Deferment of Excise Duty payable during the months of April and May 2020.
In these regulation, unless the context otherwise requires:
"the Act" means the Excise Duty Act; and
"duty" means the duty imposed by the Act.
The duty on all excise goods and services payable on various dates during the month of April 2020 according to the Act, is hereby being declared to be payable sixty (60) days later, but not later than the 28th June 2020, and the duty on all excise goods and services payable on various dates during the month of May 2020 according to the Act, is hereby being declared to be payable sixty (60) days later, but not later than the 26th July 2020.

Laws enacted on 13th April 2020

MORATORIUM ON CREDIT FACILITIES IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES REGULATIONS (L. n. 142) of 2020/04/13
These regulations establish a temporary moratorium to be applied by credit and financial institutions on credit facilities, to support economically vulnerable persons who have been materially affected by the exceptional circumstances brought about by COVID-19 outbreak.
These regulations are applicable to credit institutions licensed by the competent authority in Malta under the Banking Act and to financial institutions under the Financial Institutions Act.
Credit and financial institutions shall grant a moratorium on capital and interest, unless the borrower decides to continue to pay the relevant interest, applicable to all credit facilities satisfying the eligibility criteria established under a directive issued by the Central Bank, with the exception of credit facilities to other creditand financial institutions.
The duration of the moratorium shall be for a period of six (6) months.
Applications shall be made during the period until 30th June 2020, unless the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Finance and Financial Services, decides to extend the duration of the application period.
Eligibility for the moratorium will be defined in a directive issued by the Central Bank.
Where any credit or financial institution falling within the scope of these regulations fails to comply with any provisions of such regulations, or to any directive issued thereunder, the Central Bank may, by notice in writing and without recourse to a court hearing, impose on such credit or financial institution an administrative penalty and other administrative measures in accordance with the provisions of the Central Bank of Malta Act.
Credit and financial institutions are obliged to collect specific information as defined in a directive issued by the Central Bank.
The competent authority shall have the right to verify the accuracy of the information submitted under this regulation by requiring submission of documents and obtaining written or oral explanations, in line with the provisions of the Banking Act.

Laws enacted on 9th April 2020

GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLYING TO THE SUSPENSION OF LEGAL AND JUDICIAL TIME REGULATIONS (L. n. 141) of 2020/04/09
Following the publication of the Closure of the Courts of Justice Order, the Minister for Justice, by virtue of these regulations hereby suspends the running of any time period:
a) under any substantive or procedural law, including any period of prescription and any peremptory period; 
b) decreed or otherwise  ordered  by any court, government department, government agency or public authority;and
c) established in any agreement (whether a private writing or a public deed), including any time period for the performance of any obligation set out in such agreement, if and to the extent that the closure has a direct effect on the ability of any party to exercise its rights or to perform its obligations in terms of the same agreement.
Any time periods suspended in accordance with paragraphs a) and b) shall remain so suspended until seven (7) days following the lifting of the said order of the Superintendent and shall thereafter continue to run. Any time period suspended pursuant to paragraph c) shall remain suspended until the twentieth (20) day following the lifting of the said order of the Superintendent and shall thereafter continue to run.
The suspension shall also apply to each of the following:
a) the running of all the legal periods imposed on a notary public by law to register any deed, will, act or privatewriting;
b) the running of any period within which a notary public, in terms of any applicable law, must pay taxes collected by him in the exercise of his profession;
c) the running of any time period related to fiscal benefits, incentives or exemptions;
d) the running of any time period within which a notary public is to submit any information or documentation to any authority or regulator pursuant to relevant notarial activity; and
e) the running of time with respect to the performance of any obligation contained in any deed or private writing, including a registered promise of sale agreement.

Laws enacted on 3rd April 2020

SUSPENSION OF DELIVERY SUMMONS (L. n. 138) of 2020/04/03

A suspension of delivery summons is being taken as a precautionary measure for the purpose of guarding against and, or controlling dangerous epidemics or infectious disease as announced by the Superintendent of Public Health.
This suspension shall remain into force for an indefinite period until so required by the Superintendent of Public Health and until the Minister lifts it.
The officer charged with the notification of the summons shall:
a) deliver and leave the summons at the last registered address of the person indicated on the summons itself, and this without the need to knock or to hand it over to the person summoned or to any other person;
b) abstracts of the summons shall be published once in one daily newspaper, which abstracts shall contain the name and surname of the offender, a legally valid identification document number of the offender, the respective Local Tribunal where the sitting is going to be held, sitting date and time, and the regulation breached;
c)  copies of the abstracts published shall be exhibited to the Local Tribunal by the Prosecuting Officer and such fact shall be noted down in the Local Tribunal proceedings; and
d) notification effected in terms of this regulation shall, in all cases, be deemed to have been made three (3) days following their publication.

SUSPENSION OF LEGAL TIMES OF REVENUE ACTS (L. n. 135) of 2020/04/03

“Revenue Act” means the Income Tax Act, the Duty on Documents and Transfers Act, the Income Tax Management Act, and the Value Added Tax Act.
“Tax” means any tax or duty payable in terms of any revenue Act.
Any legal time referred to this order shall be suspended with effect from the date on which this order comes into force.
This article applies to all legal times, including prescription periods and peremptory periods imposed under any revenue Act or under any other law.
The suspension of legal times under this article shall remain in force until such date as may be prescribed by means of another order made by the Superintendent under the Public Health Act.
Any legal time to which this article applies that commenced running before the suspension has come into force, but has not expired before that date, shall be suspended and shall continue running again for the period remaining as at that date as from the date that the suspension does not remain in force.
Any legal time to which this article applies that, were it not for this order would commence running while the suspension is in force, shall commence running as from the date that the suspension does not remain in force.
This article applies to times imposed under any revenue Act for:

• the furnishing, delivery, filing or submission to the Commissioner for Revenue of any return, form, claim, objection,appeal, notice or information; and
• the payment or remittance to the Commissioner for Revenue of any tax due by or collected or with held by any person.

It is provided that this article shall not apply to and shall not suspend any legal time imposed under any revenue Act for the submission of any return, form, claim or notice or the making of any payment that in terms of that Act is required to be submitted or made by electronic means.

Laws enacted on 1st April 2020

CLOSURE OF THE LOCAL TRIBUNALS (L. N. 119) of 2020/04/01

“Local tribunals” means the tribunals established by means of the Local Tribunals Regulations.
“Registry” means the registry of any local tribunal.
The Superintendent hereby orders the closure of the local tribunals and the registry with effect from the 30th March 2020, which order shall remain in force until it is revoked by the Superintendent.
Any legal, judicial or administrative time-limit for the filling of any acts before the local tribunals shall be suspended for a period of twenty (20) days from the lifting of the repeal of this order by the Superintendent.
Any service of summons shall be suspended until a period of ten (10) days from the lifting of the repeal of this order by the Superintendent.

MANDATORY NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL BETWEEN MALTA AND GOZO (L. n.118) of 2020/04/01

This order shall come into force on the 3rd April 2020.
The Superintendent of Public Health hereby orders that travel between Malta and Gozo shall be limited only to the following:
a) persons who need to travel between Malta and Gozo for work;
b) persons who need to travel to visit members of the family; and
c) persons who need to travel between Malta and Gozo for medical reasons or to visit a member of the family who is hospitalised:
It is provided that commercial vehicles and merchandise shall be allowed to travel between Malta and Gozo without any restrictions.
It is also provided that a person may travel between Malta and Gozo to return to his ordinary residence.

TEMPORARY STREET HAWKER LICENCES AND STREET HAWKING DISTANCE REGULATIONS (L. n. 117) of 2020/04/01

“Unit” means the Market Administration Unit or any other section or entity vested with the power to issue permits under the Farmers’ Markets Regulations.
A person in possession of a valid permit issued by the Unit shall automatically be deemed to be in possession of a temporary licence as a street hawker to sell local agricultural produce without the need to apply and secure a street hawkers licence as is required for street hawking activity in accordance with the Trading Licences Regulations, subject to the Environmental Health Directorate being satisfied that the person in question can operate such activity on the basis of clearances already issued in respect of the said person.
If a person having a valid permit in accordance with sub-regulation has no clearance from the Environmental Health Directorate, he shall ensure to register the said activity with the Food Safety Commission.
A permit holder deemed to be in possession of a temporary licence as a street hawker to sell local agricultural produce may have a substitute and up two (2) assistants.
It is provided that, this substitute and assistants shall be beforehand notified to the Unit by the permit holder.
Any person being a permit holder or operating as a street hawker for local agricultural produce by means of these regulations, as well as his substitute and assistants, shall wear at all times the identification badge supplied by the Unit.
The permit document issued by the Unit in respect of a stall within a Farmers’ Market shall be kept clearly visible at all times when the permit holder or his substitute is operating as a street hawker for local agricultural produce.
Either the permit holder or the substitute shall be present at all times where the street hawking is conducted.
Such temporary licences are valid until such time that the Superintendent of Public Health determines:

• that markets or farmers markets shall not remain closed; or
• that street hawking activity including street hawking for the selling of vegetables shall cease; or
• that the persons themselves fall within a category of persons who are not permitted to be outdoors.

When any street hawker licensed under the Trading Licences Regulations, or a person deemed to be in possession of a temporary license as a street hawker to sell local agricultural produce, stops his vehicle to sell to his clients the vehicle shall not be parked within:

• one-hundred (100) metres of walking distance from the entrance of any commercial premises which is not closed; and
• less than one-hundred (100) metres of walking distance apart from another street hawker.

It is provided that, within a circumference of three-hundred (300) meters from each street hawker there shall not be more than two (2) other street hawkers at any one time, irrespective of whether they are licensed under the Trading Licences Regulations or persons deemed to be in possession of a temporary license as a street hawker to sell local agricultural produce.
It is provided further that a street hawker or a person deemed to be in possession of a temporary license as a street hawker to sell local agricultural produce shall only serve one customer at a time and the other customers shall have to stay in a line with a distance of at least two (2) metres apart from each other.

DECLARATION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDER (L. n. 115) of 2020/04/01

The Superintendent of Public Health hereby declares that, with effect from the 7th March 2020, a public health emergency exists.
The public health emergency follows the COVID-19 pandemic and applies to Malta.

Laws enacted on 30th March 2020

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN PUBLIC SPACES – AMENDMENT (L. n. 113) of 2020/03/30

Amendment to L. n. 112/20. 
Any person who fails to abide by the provisions of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to the payment of a penalty of one hundred euro (€100) for each and every occasion in which that person breaches the Number of Persons in Public Spaces Order, 2020.

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN PUBLIC SPACES (L. n. 112) of 2020/03/30

“Public space” means any open outdoor space accessible to members of the general public.
The Superintendent of Public Health hereby orders that, in public spaces, groups of more than three persons are prohibited including in queues and bus stops.
It is provided that this prohibition shall not apply to groups of persons in public places if the persons live in the same residence.
It is also provided that persons waiting in queues or on bus stops this prohibition shall only apply unless these persons do not keep a distance of two metres between them.

Laws enacted on 28th March 2020

PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE PERSONS (L. n. 111) of 2020/03/28

The Superintendent of Public Health, as a measure to reduce, remove or eliminate the threat to public health, hereby orders that those categories of persons specifically listed, hereinafter referred to as ‘vulnerable persons’, are to remain segregated in their residence.
The applicability of this measure shall be limited to the following vulnerable persons:
a) persons of sixty-five years of age or over;
b) pregnant women; and
c) persons suffering from the following chronic illnesses and, or medical conditions:
- insulin dependent diabetics;
- patients who are immunosuppressed;
- patients undergoing any immunosuppressive treatment including but not limited to the use of biological agents and immunomodulators;
- patients suffering from cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy;
- patients suffering, or who have suffered, from cancer having undergone chemotherapy at any time within the last six months preceding the entry into force of this order;
- patients on dialysis;
- patients who are to be admitted to hospital with respiratory problem exacerbations;
- patients who, at any time within the last year preceding the entry into force of this order, have been admitted to hospital with respiratory problem exacerbations;
- patients suffering from cardiac disease who are to undergo a cardiac intervention or a cardiac surgical procedure;
- patients suffering, or who have suffered, from cardiac disease having undergone a cardiac intervention or a cardiac surgical procedure at any time during the last six months preceding the entry into force of this order;
- patients attending a heart failure clinic; and
- patients on oral steroids.
This measure shall not apply in the event that the vulnerable persons need to leave their residence to attend medical appointments, obtain medical care or treatment, acquire food, medicine, other daily necessities, or to attend to any other essential or urgent personal matter.
Provided that the vulnerable persons shall limit the period outdoors to the least time possible and shall at all times exercise social distancing. 
The Superintendent of Public Health may, in her absolute discretion, exempt from this measure any vulnerable persons or category of vulnerable persons mentioned.

Laws enacted on 27th March 2020

PROCESSING OF DATA CONCERNING HEALTH FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES (L. n. 107) of 2020/03/27
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Governance, after consultation with the Information and Data Protection Commissioner, has made the following regulations:
- the processing of data concerning health shall be deemed to be in the substantial public interest when such processing is necessary for the purpose of the business of insurance or insurance distribution activities; and
- the processing referred to in this regulation shall be subject to the suitable and specific measures designed to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects.

Laws enacted on 23th March 2020

SUSPENSION OF ORGANISED EVENTS (L. n. 100) of 2020/03/23
This regulation shall come into force on the 23th March 2020.
The Superintendent of Public Healt hereby orders the suspension of any public event, including all cultural, recreational, entertainment, sporting and religious events and exhibitions in public or private places.
Any person who fails to abide by the provisions of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to the payment of a penalty of 3.000 euros for each violation.

SELF-ISOLATION OF DIAGNOSED PERSONS - AMENDMENT (L. n. 99) of 2020/03/23
Amendment to L. n. 98/20.
This regulation shall come into force on the 23rd March 2020.
The Superintendent of Public Health hereby orders that any person who is diagnosed as suffering from COVID-19 infectious disease shall, immediately upon receiving an oral or written order from the Superintendent of Public Health, submit himself to self-isolation and shall remain in self-isolation until the Superintendent of Public Health revokes the oral or written order.
This order shall apply also to persons who live in the same residence as the person referred to in paragraph 1.

SELF-ISOLATION OF DIAGNOSED PERSONS (L. n. 98) of 2020/03/23
This regulation shall come into force on the 23rd March 2020.
In order to control the COVID-19 infectious disease anyone who has been diagnosed positive to the virus is asked to observe a period of self-quarantine.
Any person who fails to abide by the provisions of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to the payment of a penalty of 10.000 euros for each violation.

CLOSURE OF THE COURTS OF JUSTICE - AMENDMENT (L. n. 97) of 2020/03/23
Amendment to L. n. 65/20.
Among the tribunals, boards, commissions or committees included in the aforementioned law, they shall be also included:
- Industrial Tribunal;
- Employment Commission;
- Committee of Inquiry (Deprivation of Citizenship);
- Partition of Inheritances Tribunal; and
- Information and Data Protection Appeals Tribunal.
Any legal, judicial or administrative time-limit for the filing of any acts before the said courts for the conclusion of any proceedings shall be suspended for a period of 20 days from the lifting of the repeal of this order by the Superintendent of Public Health.

CLOSURE OF NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL OUTLETS AND OUTLETS PROVIDING NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES - AMENDMENT (L. n. 96) of 2020/03/23
Amendment to L. n. 95/20.
This regulation shall come into force on the 23rd March 2020.
Any person who fails to abide by the provisions of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to the payment of a penalty of 3.000 euros for each violation.

CLOSURE OF NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL OUTLETS AND OUTLETS PROVIDING NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES (L. n. 95) of 2020/03/23
This order shall come into force on the 23rd March 2020.
The Superintendent of Public Health hereby orders the closure of all shops whereby their principal business relates to selling of clothing, sportswear, jewellery, hand bags and leather goods, costume jewellery and accessories, footwear, non-prescription eye-wear, perfumeries, beauty products, haberdasheries, soft furnishings, souvenir shops, discount stores, luggage shops, toy shops, hobbyshops, furniture shops, florists and vaping shops.
Nonetheless it is provided that these shops may provide delivery services of their product to the community.
The Superintendent may, my notice in the Gazette, amen this order of closure in order to include other outlets.

Laws enacted on 20th March 2020

TRAVEL BAN (L. n. 92) of 2020/03/20
This order shall come into force on the 21st March 2020.
With this order the Superintendent of Public Health extends the order of a travel ban on persons to Malta and from Malta to and from all countries.
It is nonetheless provided that:
- cargo flights, ferry flights, humanitarian flights, and repatriation flights shall be exempt from this order;
- cargo ships including container ships and ro-rovessels carrying goods and essential commodities and tankers loaded with essential fuels are exempted from this order;
- the Superintendent of Public Health may, in herabsolute discretion and by notice in the Gazette, issue an exemption from the provisions of this order whether the travel of certain persons or goods is deemed to be essential.

SUSPENSION OF LEGAL TIMES RELATING TO PROMISE OF SALE AGREEMENTS, NOTARIAL AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS - AMENDMENT (L. n. 90) of 2020/03/20
Amendment to L. n. 75/20.
In the aforementioned law n. 75/20, the words “the suspension of” shall be substituted by the words “such order shall suspend”.
The hereby order entered into force on 17th March 2020.

Laws enacted on 18th March 2020

SUSPENSION OF LEGAL AND JUDICIAL TIMES (L. n. 84) of 2020/03/18
Amendment to L. n. 75/20.
The aforementioned order came into force on the 16th March 2020.
Such order suspends the running of any legal and judicial times and of any other time limits including peremptory periods applicable to proceedings or other procedures before the courts. 
This suspension shall also apply to prescription in criminal and civil matters.
The suspension shall last until 7 days following the repeal of any such order by the Superintendent.

CLOSURE OF PLACES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - AMENDMENT (L. n. 83) of 2020/03/18
Amendment to L. n. 76/20.
Any person who fails to abide by the provisions of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to the payment of a penalty € 3,000 for each violation.

CLOSURE OF PLACES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - AMENDMENT (L. n. 82/20) of 2020/03/18
Amendment to L. n. 76/20.
The aforementioned order came into force on 18th March 2020.
To the list of the places closed to the public are added the follow: massage parlours and cafeterias.

Laws enacted on 17th March 2020

CONTACT WITH PERSONS (L. n. 78) of 2020/03/17
The Superintendent of Public Health orders that any person who comes in contact with a person diagnosed or suffering from COVID-19 infectious disease must submit itself to a 14 day period of quarantine immediately upon receiving an oral or written order from the Superintendent of Public Health.
The Superintendent of Public Health may suspend the provisions of this order, by notice in the Gazette, where, in the opinion of the the said Superintendent, the quarantine of certain persons providing an essential service shall be subject to different conditions.
Whenever any person who is subject to the quarantine requests a service from any public servant or public officer or person employed with a government department or from any private individual, which service requires the entry into the premises where quarantine is being effected, this person subject to quarantine must inform those people that he is subject to quarantine.

CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS (L. n. 77) of 2020/03/17
The hereby order will come into force on the 21st March 2020.
In furtherance of the second proviso to article 3 of the Closure of Schools Order, the Superintendent of Public Health is hereby extending the closure of schools for students and educators until the Superintendent himself, by notice in the Gazette, repeals this order.

CLOSURE OF PLACES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (L. n. 76) of 2020/03/17
The Superintendent of Public Health orders the closure of all bars, restaurants, cafeterias, snack bars, cinemas, gymnasiums, museums, exhibitions, clubs, discotheques, night clubs, open-air markets, indoor swimming pools, national swimming pool, gaming premises including controlled gaming premises, bingo halls, casinos, gaming parlours, lotto booths and betting shops.
It is provided that restaurants, snack bars and kiosks shall continue to provide delivery and take-away services to the community, and restaurants situated in hotels shall continue to provide roomservice to hotel guests and delivery service in the community.

SUSPENSION OF LEGAL TIMES RELATING TO PROMISE OF SALE AGREEMENTS, NOTARIAL AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS (L. n. 75) of 2020/03/17
When the Superintendent orders the closure of all courts or any courts, it is also imposed the suspension of the running of all the legal terms imposed on a notary public by law to register any deed, will, act or private writing.
The suspension shall last until 20 days following the repeal of any such order by the Superintendent.

GRANTING OF AN EMERGENCY LICENCE IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES (L. n. 74) of 2020/03/17
"Emergency licence" means a licence issued by the Authority in exceptional circumstances for the provision of a social welfare service.
"Exceptional circumstances" means circumstances which justify the suspension of procedures which otherwise would have been followed.
The Authority may, at any time it deems necessary, grant an emergency licence in exceptional circumstances in order to provide a social welfare service.
The emergency licence shall only be issued for amaximum period of 6 months.
The emergency licence may be renewed for a further periodof 6 months at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority.

ENFORCEMENT OF DIRECTIONS RELATING TO QUARANTINE (L. n. 72) of 2020/03/17
Any person who fails to abide by the provisions of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to the payment of a penalty of € 3,000 for each violation.

Laws enacted on 13th March 2020

CLOSURE OF THE COURTS OF JUSTICE (L. n. 65) of 2020/03/13
The Superintendent of Public Health orders the closure of the courts of justice with effect from the 16th March 2020.
This order shall remain in force until it is revoked by the Superintendent himself.

PERIOD OF QUARANTINE (L. n. 63) of 2020/03/13
Any person arriving in Malta from any country must submit himself to a 14 day period of quarantine immediately upon his arrival in Malta.