Efforts to equip the Gozo General Hospital(GGH)with more medical equipment in light of the COVID-19 pandemic are currently in progress, with the first stage deemed complete.

Indeed, the GGH has managed to acquire 10 ventilators, despite an international shortage, and upped the number of ITU beds from two to 16.

Steward Health Care, who has management of GGH, also revealed that an order for 10 more ventilators has been placed and is expected to arrive in the summer months. Another five ventilators are expected to be delivered in the coming weeks.

This would increase the number of ITU beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients to 25, with another 6 beds for non-COVID patients - a marked upgrade from the four patients the GGH is generally able to provide ventilatory support to.

Gozo has not had any COVID-19 cases for a week, however health authorities have continued their efforts to prepare for a possible outbreak of the virus on the island.