Ireland has removed Malta from its 'safe travel' green list.

The Irish government announced on Tuesday that anyone travelling from Malta will have to quarantine for a fortnight.

The move comes after Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia also placed restrictions on Malta arrivals.

Ireland's decision also applies to Cyprus, Gibraltar, Monaco and San Marino.

The country decided that the planned August 10 reopening of pubs, hotel bars and nightclubs will not go ahead.

After active cases dropped to as low as three last month and had the lowest number of patients in the EU after a COVID-19 containment policy that was praised by the World Health Organisation.

But the island saw a dramatic rise in patients and the number of active cases now stands at 229. 

The spike in cases first began after a series of large-scale events that were allowed to take place including a three-day pool party and a religious festival.

The numbers have also been inflated by 104 migrants who tested positive for the virus in separate rescues at sea and are currently being isolated.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has been criticised by doctors for downplaying the impact of large-scale events and blaming the migrant arrivals.

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