Updated 9pm

The Nadur open market will not re-open, despite the relaxation of COVID-19 measures as from Friday, while the Paola local council has also expressed concern over social distancing at the locality's monti.

All open-air markets except those selling food were suspended on March 14 but the government has announced that they will be allowed to reopen from Friday, along with restaurants, beauticians and hairdressers.

The Nadur local council said the street market will not be set up, as it was considered "an organised mass event in public". 

The council said in a statement on Facebook that it was prioritising health matters over economic activity until the situation improved.

"We want to avoid organising public activities knowing the risks they pose and we do not want to have masses of people at the same place without control.

"While understanding that the government is treating this period as transitional, we understand that this is not a normal period of time," the council said, adding that it was taking this decision in its residents' best interests.

Meanwhile, the Paola local council said it was unsure the locality's open-market could be set up in line with COVID-19 measures. 

Photo: Paola local council

The limited space at the site of the market madeit extremely difficult for people to keep the required distance between each other, the council said in a statement.

"The council understands that these aren't normal times and reiterates that this market should not operate in a regular manner," the Paola local council said on Thursday.

The council said it was also concerned about the health of residents who live in the vicinity of the market site. The Paola market was quite popular and drew crowds that were difficult to control, it added.

In its statement, it warned stall owners to keep the site clean, and called on the authorities to take into consideration the council's concerns.