Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1354201
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 MARCH 2021 NEWS Each activity was scored with a 0-5 on the risk according to specific parameters: adequate distancing, indoors or outdoors, length of exposure, exposure of vulnerable individuals, activities that increase aerosolisation of respiratory secretions, activities that involve physical contact, the social contact rate per hour of the activity, travel, and mitigation by additional protection. The two different scores reflect its 'natural' state under normal circumstances, and another after considering feasible mitigation measures for each activity. Risk scoring rapid alerts on any re-escalating progression of COVID-19. Indeed, the Superintendence used the word "months" to de- note the length of the transition plan from mid-May onwards. "The risk assessment and Tran- sition Phases were mapped to present a Transition Plan out- lining the introduction of several socio-economical activities over a period of a few months. This is shown in Appendix 1, where each activity is classified accord- ing to mitigated risk and mapped to the 10 phases for the relaxa- tion of measures, progressing from a complete lockdown to a complete relaxation of all meas- ures. Further activities have been added and will continue to be added according to demand. Current scores reflect the cur- rent reality, including the travel ban still being in place." 10-phase transition plan In its transition plan, the Su- perintendence for Public Health identified 10 phases, all ranked from low to high risk, between which a three-week period had to elapse between one step and the other. The first and second phases were baseline scenarios of, re- spectively, a full and partial lock- down. Malta did not have a full lockdown, but a partial lockdown that included shuttered schools and the closure of non-essential shops. The third phase – categorized as low-to-intermediate risk – was to allow the reopening of non-es- sential retail and malls, muse- ums and indoor exhibitions, any drive-in cinema, the Gozo ferry, and allowing public gatherings of a maximum of four people. The fourth and fifth phases – categorized as medium risk – allowed first the opening of outdoor cinemas, open-air thea- tres, sports venues, outdoor ho- tel pools but no hotel services, open-air markets, as well as hair- dressers or beauticians, and then outdoor restaurants and beaches. The sixth and seventh phases – categorized as high risk – al- lowed the reopening first of in- door pools, indoor restaurants, schools, indoor cinemas and bet- ting shops; and then childcare centres, indoor mass, and gyms. The eighth and ninth phases – categorized as very high risk – were the nightclubs, bingo halls, casinos, snack bars and clubs, organised public events such as festas, but not mass events; and then, travel abroad and the eas- ing of restrictions on vulnerable populations. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt TOM: 18cm x 3 columns (145cm) EXPRESSION OF INTEREST All applications should be submitted by noon on Thursday 1st April 2021 via e-mail on: procurement.bca@bca.org.mt For more information, visit our website; bca.org.mt/procurement Cases 27,904 Active 2,873 Recoveries 24,662 Deaths 369 Swabs 779,986 LATEST COVID-19 www.maltatoday.com.mt/covid19 Timeline of public health measures 30 March: groups of persons in public places restricted to maximum of three 4 May: increase of groups of persons to 4 22 May: increase of groups to 6, high-risk facilities such as gyms, spas, saunas reopened; restaurants reopened 5 June: increase of groups to 75 30 June: events limited to 100 people indoors, 300 outdoors 1 July: lifting of travel ban 19 August: persons in public spaces reduced to 15 maximum; discos and clubs closed, bars only open as restaurants 19 October: 11pm curfew for bars and restaurants 29 October: persons in public spaces reduced to 6, closure of bars and clubs 5 March 2021: persons in public spaces reduced to 4 11 March 2021: events limited to funerals