Malta will return to mandatory mask-wearing in outdoor and indoor spaces as from Saturday, Health Minister Chris Fearne has said, according to Reuters.

The measure is being taken as a precaution to prevent any major increase in Covid-19 cases, although the Mediterranean island has not yet detected cases of the recently discovered Omicron variant.

“It has been shown that masks, as well as booster doses, are effective to ward off the virus, including the new Omicron variant,” the minister told media.

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