Ten-day quarantine upon arrival to be lifted, compulsory testing remains

TDT | Manama

The National Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19), headed by Supreme Council of Health chairman Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, reviewed yesterday COVID-19 precautionary measures at a periodic meeting.

The taskforce discussed case statistics, which revealed a low 0.2 per cent average rate of positive cases among incoming travellers who have conducted an exit swab after completing their 10-day quarantine period between July 1 and August 16.

Following consideration of a COVID-19 periodic revision report submitted by the taskforce, the Government Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, approved the following measures, effective from today:

• Compulsory COVID-19 PCR testing for all passengers arriving into Bahrain International Airport will remain intact.

• All incoming travellers are required to pay the cost of two COVID-19 tests—an arrival test and a test to be conducted after their stay in Bahrain for 10 days—at a total of BD60.

• All incoming passengers are required to download and activate the “BeAware Bahrain” app.

• The compulsory 10-day quarantine will be lifted for all incoming passengers who test negative, following their test upon arrival in Bahrain and being informed of the result.

• All incoming passengers must sign a declaration stating that they will follow the Ministry of Health’s self-isolating regulations until their COVID-19 test carried out upon arrival in Bahrain is confirmed negative.

• Citizens and residents, as well as travellers staying for a duration longer than 10 days, must test again on the 10th day of their arrival.

• Travellers who test positive upon arrival will be contacted on the information provided to health authorities as they were tested.