Three and a half months ago I flew from France to start my Erasmus year in Malta. Who would have guessed that I would end up spending 14 days in quarantine at Christmas? Surely, not me.

It all started with my Covid test result. My plan was to go back to France to enjoy the Christmas holidays and spend time with my family and friends. I decided to book a test to make sure I was safe.

And what a surprise it was when I was called the next day and told that I had tested positive. The feelings that ran through me at that moment were not quite clear. I was given quarantine instructions. Questions were fired at me as if I were being grilled by the FBI. 

The first few days were the toughest. You are drained of motivation. Drained of creativity. Of inspiration. And you don’t realize you are going to be locked up. Because of this you have to organize your living space. Organize your schedule. Cancel plans.

After a few days, the rhythm is good except the really bad sleep rhythm pattern. You start to think that after this imprisonment you can change your life, your body, your mind. You start to come to terms with the fact that it’s not that bad after all. During this ‘house arrest,’ I called the covid center three times. Called the 145 number twice. I was asked to hold the line, listening to music for one whole hour. In the end, I can’t say that this punitive term has enhanced anything in my life. I am certain of one thing however. It is essential to enjoy every moment because it is at time like this, when you cannot do what you want that you appreciate what you’re missing.

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As of yet, despite the persistent number of new COVID-19 cases, University of Malta is set to open its doors to freshers on 19th October. With Freshers’ Week already cancelled, the prospect of returning to normality in less than two months seems all the more impractical. While there is a ‘Plan B’ for lectures to shift completely online if the situation worsens, this scenario brings with it many unanswered questions. The fruitful discussion that took place during the meeting clarified many of these uncertainties. 

KSU informed student representatives of the plans UM currently has in place to safeguard students’ health and safety for the coming academic year.

The main outcome of the meeting was a consensus to establish online lectures as a fixed option for university students even after the pandemic phases out. 

• Lectures will be held both online and physically. 
• *For lectures with larger groups, students would be split into two smaller groups; wherein either group would alternate between attending the lecture in person or online. 

*This system will be adopted only where it is deemed necessary due to space constraints, so that social distancing within classes can be adhered to.

• An option to take online classes will be introduced for students uncomfortable with attending physically. 
• Practicals will remain on campus.
• Areas at university will be provided for students who cannot stay at home for online lectures.

There are also some other systems that could potentially be implemented; however, there has been no finite decision yet.

• A shuttle service is being considered from the Msida to the Valletta campus due to the parking problem in Valletta and the higher risk of contracting the virus on buses. 
• A benchmark system has been requested to be established in place of exams if the number of active cases exceeds a certain amount. 

Earlier today, KSU have posted on their Facebook page a rundown of the questions they directed towards the Superintendent of Health. Amongst which, were many demands for clarifications regarding the coming MATSEC exam sessions and UM resit sessions.

This meeting came after a KSU contacted student organisations and representatives to draw up a Pandemic Response Policy collaboratively. This policy is aimed to prepare and equip the University any similar future outbreaks, or a prolonged period of the current situation.

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