Two more released from quarantine

TDT | Manama

Bahrain yesterday released two more after a preventive mandatory quarantine period of 14-days bringing the total number of individual discharged until now to 26. Both individuals were tested negative for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) before being discharged, said the Ministry of Health in a statement on BNA. “All quarantined individuals are being monitored and cared for by a specialised medical team in line with guidelines established by the WHO,” added the ministry statement. One of the released individuals was a Bahraini national, a female, while the other was a male arriving from China.

The Ministry of Health reiterated the importance of all individuals returning from Iran during the month of February, to schedule their mandatory medical examinations by visiting www.moh.gov.bh/444 or calling 444. Bahrain has reported 55 confirmed cases of the new Coronavirus, while the UAE has reported at least 27 cases. According to the ministry of health website, a total of 5282 people tested negative to Coronavirus in the Kingdom, with active cases not requiring any medication amounts to 35. Those tested positive upon arrival, before entering Bahrain, were 46.

The total number of active virus cases in the Kingdom is 52, with active cases receiving necessary medication being 17. A total of 6 cases tested as positive in the country. The other Gulf countries have all reported cases, many of which came from Iran, which is one of the countries worst-hit by the virus. In Iran, 15 more people died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total deaths to 107 out of 3,513 confirmed cases, up by 591 from the day before

Give deferrals on credit instalments: CBB

In light of the outbreak, Bahrain’s central bank yesterday urged banks and financing companies to consider rescheduling or granting deferrals on credit instalments. It also urged the financial institutions to reduce profit and interest rates, fees and commissions or other measures for customers affected by the outbreak, the central bank said in the circular. On Saturday, the United Arab Emirates’ central bank advised banks to take measures to mitigate the economic effects of the coronavirus outbreak, including rescheduling loans and reducing fees and commissions.

Saudi suspends “Umrah”

Saudi Arabia has suspended the “Umrah” year-round pilgrimage, raising uncertainty over the upcoming hajj -- a key pillar of Islam. Authorities in Saudi Arabia has so far reported five cases of the virus.