10 Covid deaths this month in Bahrain; new cases number stabilises

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Ten Covid-19 deaths were reported this month in Bahrain as the number of new cases stabilised since the beginning of March 2022.

Last month saw 46 Covid-19 deaths, which was the highest monthly death number during the third wave of infection.

The death numbers rose to 1,464 on Tuesday and there are now eight critical cases.

The highest single-day death number (four) since the beginning of the New Year was reported on February 13 and February 23.

There were 1,194 new cases on Tuesday along with 1,731 recoveries and one death.

There are 12,009 active cases including 25 hospitalised patients infected with Covid-19.

Bahrain has so far registered a total of 539,988 cases and 6,679 tests were recorded on Tuesday.

Experts say the flattening of the Covid curve reflects Bahrain’s success saga in terms of administering vaccine and booster doses along with strict measures taken to tackle the spread of the virus.

On the vaccination front, the authorities have reaped an unprecedented success; 12,27,305 have received a single dose of the vaccine while 11,97,343 received two doses; 950,713 have already received their booster doses.

Bahrain has registered over 100,000 Omicron cases since January 2022, according to Lt Col Dr Manaf Al Qahtani, Infectious Diseases Consultant and Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and Member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating COVID-19.

The first Omicron case was reported on December 11 last year and the infected had travelled abroad.

He stressed the success of the national vaccination campaign in achieving its goals, which contributed to raising the immune response for all age groups which took two doses and the booster jab.

“The anti-coronavirus vaccination has proven effective in reducing the incidence of complications for existing cases, thus reducing hospital admission rates and intensive care and the death toll,” he said.

He underlined Bahrain’s continuous efforts to combat the virus within the national vaccination campaign to protect citizens' and residents’ health and safety.

“It is important to focus in the current stage on the number of existing cases whose health requires hospitalisation or admission to intensive care,” said Dr Al Qahtani.

Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has tested positive for COVID-19, McLaren confirmed last week.

Ricciardo missed two days of F1’s preseason test in Bahrain after feeling unwell, and he took a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test as a precaution and that came back positive, according to the team, which said he is isolating as per local coronavirus regulations.

The Australian driver is expected to be released in time for the season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain, and teammate Lando Norris was seen driving on the final day of testing on Saturday.

“Daniel is already beginning to feel better, and we wish him well for a quick recovery,” McLaren said in a statement.