No overcrowding in isolation, quarantine centres

TDT | Manama

There is no overcrowding in the isolation, quarantine and check-up centres in Bahrain as the Kingdom continues to fight the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This was declared by Minister of Health Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh, who held a distance meeting yesterday with the World Health Organisation (WHO) along with National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) president Maria Khouri.

During this, they discussed procedures followed by the Ministry of Health in complying with human rights criteria while combating COVID-19 in isolation, quarantine and check-up centres. The Minister presented a thorough explanation on these places, their capacity, and the preemptive measures being taken in this respect.

She stressed that the capacity and the actual numbers indicate that there is no overcrowding in isolation and quarantine centres. The NIHR President praised the utter transparency and clarity in announcing the number of infected and recovered people.

She stressed the need to take into consideration human rights, like the right to health and personal freedom, in the places designated for isolation and quarantine. The Minister of Health hailed a plan by the institution to pay field visits to the isolation and quarantine centres as part of its monitoring role stipulated in the law of its establishment.

Meetings will be held with the medical teams and some of the isolated and quarantined people to learn about their opinions regarding the procedures taken and the medical care provided to them. NIHR commended the unrelenting humanitarian and national efforts spearheaded by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier to combat the coronavirus COVID-19.

The institution praised the success of the National Taskforce to Combat COVID-19 and called on all people in Bahrain to adhere to the official regulations and directives issued by the committee and allied parties.

It also lauded the alternative and emergency schemes carried out by the government to guarantee the provision of food and healthcare for all citizens and expatriates during this time.