For the second consecutive year, the International Institute on Ageing United Nations – Malta (INIA) teamed with the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka to organise the 2nd International Conference on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine with the theme Adding holistic quality care for the silver aged. The conference was held virtually between 5 and 6 December 2020. Rosette Farrugia-Bonello delivered a keynote paper titled ‘The impact of social isolation on older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic’