The Maltese government will hand over vouchers worth one hundred euros

The Maltese government will hand over vouchers worth one hundred euros to each inhabitant over the age of sixteen. Most of it will be possible to spend in restaurants, smaller in shops. The goal is to kick-start the Maltese economy after the covid pandemic, Reuters reported. "This measure will affect everyone, businesses, households and employees," said Prime Minister Robert Abela. The single dose will take two forms. It will be possible to spend 60 euros in restaurants, hotels and similar places and 40 euros in shops. The program will involve 25,000 companies. In April, the Maltese government announced another subsidy program for foreign tourists. Those who stay on the island for at least three nights will be able to get a contribution of up to 200 euros. However, the amount of the contribution depends on the category of the hotel. The government wants to support the arrival of visitors during the summer tourist season. Tourism is one of the island's biggest sources of income. Malta, home to around half a million people, has one of the lowest rates of coronavirus in the European Union. According to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the island state has recorded 25 new cases per 100,000 population in the last 14 days. The epidemic situation on the island has been significantly improving since mid-March. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the infection in Malta has been confirmed in 30,500 people, 417 people have died from the disease.