Robert Abela pledges 'very cautious' reopening strategy

The government's reopening plan will see the authorities being "very cautious", according to Prime Minister Robert Abela, who again said education will be given priority. 

Speaking on the Labour Party's ONE radio, the prime minister said the authorities were in the process of finalising the reopening plan. Malta has been on quasi-lockdown since mid-March, when record numbers of new cases were registered for days on end. 

Restrictions currently in place expire on Sunday. Abela's comments come as the island is on tenterhooks, waiting to learn what will be allowed come Monday. 

According to Abela, however, the reopening will not see everything going back to the way it was before the shutdown immediately. 

"It will not be an aggressive reopening but one where we’re very cautious and with education being given priority," Abela said. Although some restrictions will be lifted, authorities will keep the door open to reinstating them if the number of new cases spike, he noted. 

Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci had already hinted that reopening schools was a priority, saying during an episode of Times of Malta show Ask Charmaine that "education comes before...