100pc transparency

TDT | Manama 

Urging people to stay away from rumours, the Kingdom’s Health Minister said the authorities concerned are maintaining 100 per cent transparency when it comes to anti-COVID-19 operations. This came as the National Task Force for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) yesterday held a press briefing at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research to discuss the latest developments related to the COVID-19.

Speaking on the occasion, Faeqa Al Saleh asked the public to seek information from reliable government sources. The Minister of Health hailed the support offered by HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister for all precautionary measures taken against COVID-19, and reserved special praise for the efforts of the National Task Force to Combat Coronavirus, headed by Lt.-Gen Dr Shaikh Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The minster noted that Bahrain continues to enhance its precautionary measures, alongside its coordination with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

The minister outlined the integrated efforts of the Kingdom’s medical personnel, noting their dedication, vigilance and tireless efforts towards combating the virus. Later, Lt Col Dr Manaf Al Qahtani, Infectious Diseases Consultant and Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and Member of the National Task force for Combating COVID-19, outlined the measures Bahrain has taken amid global outbreak. They include setting up a special operations room, introducing a hotline for inquiries related to Corona infections, intensified passenger screening at Bahrain International Airport and despatch of mobile medical units.

Dr Manaf noted that Bahrain will continue its epidemiological monitoring at entry points, and that the National Task Force for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to enhance its work-streams to  increase testing, quarantine, isolation and treatment capacities.

1,200 covered 

The Ministry of Health has announced that the recently introduced mobile testing process has completed collecting samples from 1,200 individuals who returned from Iran before the country announced a Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in February. The samples collected are from individuals who have scheduled medical examination dates either electronically or by calling 444.  The ministry’s dedicated laboratories have completed testing 600 of the 1,200 samples collected thus far, all of which tested negative for COVID-19, and is working on testing the remaining samples. The Ministry of Health’s mobile testing process is also currently working to visit the remaining registered returnees to collect samples.

New webpage 

The Ministry of Health has introduced a new page on its website dedicated to showing up-to-date Coronavirus (COVID-19) information in the Kingdom. The dedicated webpage will provide live statistics on the total number of active cases, and the total number of quarantined cases and their health status. As part of its efforts to ensure citizens and residents have up-to-date health and travel information, the ministry’s dedicated webpage will also include links to press releases and live coverage of press conferences translated into English, Urdu and Hindi, in addition to the original Arabic uploaded to YouTube. The webpage is accessible at: https://www.moh. gov.bh/COVID19.