Various halls within university’s Gateway building are being turned into an extension of Mater Dei to ensure capacity in case a second wave of COVID-19 occurs. Who would have thought that the halls that once were bustling with students will be used in this way?

In a statement, the office of the Deputy PM and Health Minister Chris Fearne said that these will add an additional 42 beds to Mater Dei’s count. Fearne visited the site at the end of the week and expressed satisfaction that the country will be ready for anything, even in the event of a second wave.

He said that from the start, health authorities were proactive so that Malta would be prepared, and with this initiative, the country will be prepared once again, even for influenza cases that normally arise in November.

“This year, we might have to deal with both COVID and influenza at the same time, so we are from now preparing ourselves for this situation," he said.