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Getting Covid was worth it for thrill of tombla, says Maltese pensioner

Karl Stennienibarra

A Maltese pensioner who tested positive for Covid-19 after attending a tombola lunch has said it was worth it for the adrenaline rush she got from the game.

Salvina Buhagiar, 79, from Msida, is one of eight elderly people who have so far caught the virus after attending the event with her friend Doris and around 70 others.

“Charmaine can chastise me all she wants, but she’s clearly never experienced the thrill of tombla,” Buhagiar told Bis-Serjetà via Zoom from her hospital bed at Mater Dei.

The grandmother of five described last weekend’s fateful game as “particularly exhilarating.”

“I was on fire, getting line after line. Then at the end, would you believe it: a double-or-nothing house. I won €20 all told,” she said, adding that the ham-and-cheese sandwiches at the event were also very good.

“Will I end up on a ventilator? Quite possibly, but what is it you young ones say? Fuck it, YOLO.”

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