Lawmaker seeks temporary ban on Chinese citizens entering Kingdom

An urgent proposal was submitted by a parliamentarian yesterday to temporarily ban Chinese citizens from entering the Kingdom.   MP Adel Al Asoomi urged the government to ban Chinese nationals from coming to Bahrain following the recent outbreak of coronavirus in China. He said the outbreak of coronavirus is a cause of concern and that allowing people from China to visit Bahrain could lead to a risk in spreading the disease in the Kingdom.

He said that a temporary ban should be in place until the situation settles down.  The Bahrain International Airport is now doing a thorough check on passengers coming to Bahrain amidst coronavirus fears. In co-operation with the Ministry of Health, the Bahrain International Airport is conducting thorough checks to make sure patients infected with coronavirus does not enter Bahrain other than the airport.  Bahrainis, were assisted by the Bahraini Embassy in China to return to the Kingdom to escape the country amidst the coronavirus scare.  Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is taking measures to prevent an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.

A number of measures has already been taken to prevent an outbreak, according to a statement issued by the ministry.   “The ministry is taking all precautionary measures for this purpose. The situation is being monitored closely. Co-ordination is ongoing with relevant authorities and the Bahrain International Airport.” The ministry has urged the public to take precautionary measures after travel. It said that it is communicating directly with the World Health Organisation. The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention announced on Friday that a new case of coronavirus had been diagnosed in the country yesterday. The person, the fifth to be identified as having the virus in the country, arrived from Wuhan, the centre of the virus’ outbreak in China.

All five patients are in a stable condition and the ministry called on all citizens and residents to adhere to guidelines that it has provided. China is facing deepening isolation over the epidemic as the death toll soared to 259 on Saturday, with the US and Australia leading a growing list of nations to impose Chinese travel bans. With the UK, Russia and Sweden among the countries confirming their first infections, the virus has now spread to more than two dozen nations, sending governments scurrying to limit their exposure.

In light of the current breakthrough of the deadly Coronavirus across China and its detection in several countries of the world, the Embassy of the Kingdom in Beijing has requested universities and educational institutions in China, where Bahraini students are enrolled, to extend the students’ holiday, sources confirmed. Sources also told that the Embassy has requested these institutions to allow Bahraini students and trainees to return to Bahrain considering their safety.

Additionally, Tribune learnt that the students there are on holiday until February 17, 2020, on the occasion of the New Chinese Year. The virus was first reported to the World Health Organisation on Dec 31 and has been under investigation since then. Chinese scientists have linked the disease to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses, the same family as the deadly SARS and MERS viruses. Scientists have yet to fully understand how destructive the new virus, known as 2019-nCoV, might be. Researchers and investigators are just beginning to understand where it originated, how it’s transmitted, how far it has spread and what its symptoms look like.