All court proceedings will be suspended as of Monday March 16, authorities said on Friday following calls by the Chamber of Advocates for lawyers to snub proceedings due to health concerns. 

The Chamber had instructed its members to snub court and tribunal sittings after the authorities refused to consider measures to limit the potential risks from the COVID-19 virus in court. 

Later in the evening, the Justice Ministry said that it had agreed to suspend all court proceedings bar urgent ones and would be introducing legal notices to that effect. 

The legal notices will remain in effect until they are revoked by the Superintendent of Public Health, the ministry said. 

Local tribunal sessions have also been suspended. 

Lawyers had expressed concern about the large number of people inside the law courts building in Valletta at any one time, saying this posed a risk to lawyers, clients, the judiciary and court staff. 

Authorities have cancelled public gatherings as part of measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. 

“The Chamber believes that the current situation is not the ideal one to protect the health of all those involved including lawyers, the judiciary, the Court employees and the general public and this situation needs to be addressed in an immediate and decisive manner,” it said.