Bahrain has not needed a lockdown to combat COVID-19: Al Manea

 TDT | Manama

Speaking in a video lecture organised by the Bahrain Embassy in the UK on Tuesday, Health Ministry undersecretary Dr. Waleed Al Manea underlined that the Kingdom has so far not needed a complete lockdown in its efforts to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr. Al Manea summarised the measures Bahrain has taken in the virus fight, which has not included a lockdown like other countries, due to adequate preparedness, information about cases, and procedures for statistical tracking through the electronic application “conscious community”.

Highlighting the national team to combat the coronavirus, led by HRH the Crown Prince, he stressed on Bahrain’s proactive laboratory tests, thereby ranking the Kingdom amongst the top countries with high per-capita testing compared to the population size. Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital Lt. Col. Dr. Manaf Al Qahtani talked about the number of cases and the treatment protocol used.

He also mentioned the free check-ups, quarantine, isolation and treatment services for all citizens and residents, and provided an explanation of Bahrain’s strategy in conducting examinations, its continuous evaluation process, and the treatment that Bahrain provides for all existing cases. UK Health Ministry former advisor Professor John Ashton also praised the Bahrain model. Bahrain Ambassador to the UK Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, along with British Members of Parliament, led by the Defence Procurement Shadow Minister Khalid Mahmood MP, Afzal Khan MP, Royston Smith MP, and Lord Jeremy Brauvis took part.