Bahrain urges extra precautions to limit spread of highly contagious COVID-19 strain
The National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) today held a press conference at the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, to provide an update on the COVID-19 response in the Kingdom.
HE Dr. Waleed Khalifa Al Manea highlighted the importance of vigilantly following all precautionary measures in light of the prevalence of the highly contagious variant COVID-19 strain. HE Dr. Al Manea noted that despite relentless contact tracing efforts, there has been a rise in active cases and it is a shared responsibility to ensure communities are safeguarded from the virus.
HE Dr. Al Manea noted that the increased rate of infections, which reached 896 cases recorded on 12 February, is a striking escalation from the 114 cases recorded previously on 22 November 2020.
Based on analysis from contact tracing operations involving 300,000 individuals, HE Dr. Al Manea highlighted that a predominant factor explaining the spread of COVID-19 is general complacency and large family gatherings, which has led to not only an increase in cases but an increase in the number of deaths and patients in intensive care. HE Dr. Al Manea stressed the importance of following all social distancing guidelines by limiting interactions to those living in the same household, and avoiding large family gatherings.
HE Dr. Al Manea highlighted the introduction of new screening measures for travellers entering the Kingdom of Bahrain, which includes an additional COVID-19 PCR test to be conducted on the 5th day after arrival, totaling three PCR tests, for a reduced total fee of BHD 36.
