Five-day quarantine rule applies only to Mater Dei Hospital staff

The newly-updated quarantine rules that allow fully-vaccinated healthcare workers to go into quarantine for five days instead of 14 only applies to those working at Mater Dei, Times of Malta can confirm. 

Health Minister Chris Fearne announced the measure in parliament on Tuesday, saying it will help ease pressure on the healthcare system by freeing up human resources at an earlier stage. 

Fearne said that the revised rules would be the way forward, though he said the new rules would only apply to healthcare workers for now.

But according to a government notice published on Wednesday that brings the fresh rules into force, it is only Mater Dei Hospital workers who will be allowed to go into quarantine for the shorter period.

“An essential worker is any worker whose services are considered by the Medical Director of Mater Dei Hospital to be essential for the running of the hospital,” the notice reads. 

Health sources confirmed the rules will for the time being only apply to those working at Mater Dei Hospital. Those working in other hospitals will still have to quarantine for 14 days if they were in contact with an infected patient. 

It remains unclear when the measure will be...