A high degree isolation unit with an investment of more than €1.5 million was inaugurated by Health Minister Chris Fearne together with Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi on Wednesday.
During a press conference, Fearne explained that this isolation unit will seek to isolate and care for patients who contract a highly infectious disease.
He described the unit “as a state of the art which will prepare Malta to deal with highly infectious diseases when climate change arrives on our shores.”
The unit is made up of two beds and although it is located within the Materi Dei hospital the unit is completely isolated and cut off from the hospital.
Fearne explained that a big problem which brings about an array of illnessess is climate change and despite the mitigation measures, it seems to be picking up.
He remarked that just because a pandemic is going on, does not mean that there aren’t any other problems in this world. “We would not be doing our job if we did not evaluate every aspect and look ahead.”
This unit will not only seek to care for the patients with the disease, but it will also ensure the safety of staff members, of other patients at the hospital as well as the community at large. It will also give peace of mind as when we are to encounter a highly infectious disease, we will have the means and appropriate infrastructure to handle the situation.
For his part, Parliamentary Sectretary Stefan Zrino Azzopardi said that European funds were allocated for this unit as it is very important to not only have such a facility in a country, but to also ensure that the issue of national security is addressed.
“We want to see our country fully prepared, thus it was of strategic important to invest in such a unit,” Zrinzo Azzopardi said.
Head of Mater Dei’s Infectious Diseases Division Charles Mallia Azzopardi said that “in recent years, we have find out more about certain infections, referred to as emerging infections which are highly contagious and associated with many deaths. Therefore, this unit is extremely important.”
He explained that “when patients with a highly infectious disease enter, they will remain in the unit until they are fully recovered. The unit is accostumed to care for patients if they need intensive care, just like an ITU.”
Answering questions from the media regarding the plan on vaccinating children under the age of 12 years, Fearne said that there is one particular company that is submitting data in order to, later on this year, make it possible for children under 12 years to be vaccinated.
Asked on the entertainment industry, Fearne said that an announcement on the way forward could be made soon but he did not elaborate on when this would be or what will be announced.
Fearne gave an update on the situation within the hospital and said that there are currently three patients at Mater Dei with the virus, up from just one last week. He confirmed that none of the patients require intensive care.