Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1225368
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 MARCH 2020 NEWS Coronavirus DAVID HUDSON THE Ministry for Health has issued a call for of- fers of purchase, delivery, and installation of a prefabricated hospital that is capable of catering for over 90 patients. In a call published by the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit, the ministry said that the sole award criterion will be the price. The contract will be awarded to the tenderer submitting the cheapest price offer that also satisfies the admin- istrative and technical criteria. The request for participation lasts for three days as the call ends on Thursday at noon — the call says that the hospital must be completed within eight weeks from the confirmation of the order. All interest parties must submit clarifica- tion requests by Tuesday at noon. The novel pandemic, Covid-19, is not men- tioned within the call but other countries, in- cluding China (where the deadly virus origi- nated), issued similar calls in the past to build pre-fabricated structures in a short amount of time that could cater for incoming Covid-19 cas- es without compromising other patients afflicted with different ailments. Government to build makeshift hospital for 90 patients in eight weeks In the height of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China managed to build a modular hospital in just nine days DAVID HUDSON MALTA recorded three new cases of coro- navirus overnight between Monday and Tuesday, bringing the total to 110 since the start of the outbreak a fortnight ago. The three new cases were patients who contracted the virus abroad. However, in her daily update, Superin- tendent for Public Health Charmaine Gau- ci warned against complacency. "The fact that we only had three cases means noth- ing. Something similar happened last week. We are still on the upward curve and peo- ple should continue to respect social dis- tancing and obey rules issued by the health authorities," she said. Gauci said all patients were doing well and the man who was recovering at Mater Dei Hospital's Intensive Therapy Unit was stable. She said the new €10,000 fine for quar- antine breach applied to those people who test positive for Covid-19 and are asked to quarantine at home. On Monday, Gauci reported that 17 new Covid-19 cases were registered. This was the second day in a row that 17 cases were recorded. Asked about government's call to erect a field hospital, Gauci said an assessment was still underway where best to place this hos- pital but it should ideally be close to Mater Dei Hospital. She said the health authori- ties were scaling up their preparedness in terms of beds and resources in line with the number of cases they were projecting. Asked whether it would have been better to use St Luke's Hospital instead, Gauci said in most instances it would be more financially viable to build a new makeshift hospital than refurbish a building that has been in disuse for some time. Only three new cases of Covid-19 but health authorities warn against complacency Superintendent for Public Health Charmaine Gauci DIRECTIVES limiting tradi- tional feasts have been issued by Malta and Gozo's bishops. In a statement, the curia said that village feasts may only be held if authorities lift the ban on social gatherings. In any case, feasts will only be held on the Sunday of ac- tual feast day if it is a public holiday. A thanksgiving pilgrimage with the statue of the village saint will be allowed. High mass to mark the feast will also be held. No other internal or exter- nal festivities will be held, the Church said. Further details will be issued as the situation develops. Easter festivities The celebrations of Holy Week and Easter for this year have also been cancelled. In its statement, the church said that the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows could be held on the proper day of the feast on September 15. Holy Communion and Con- firmation ceremonies have al- so been postponed. Feast celebrations to be limited to Sunday pilgrimages