A BAHRAIN wedding turned into a super-spreader event after 31 people tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19) days after.
The Health Ministry found that 23 of them had direct contact with a 34-year-old female citizen who had symptoms of the virus.
Eight secondary infections were also detected, with the cluster affecting 17 households from across the country.
Those infected were family members and friends, all of whom had contact with each other during the ceremony.
The details were revealed by the ministry in its weekly contact tracing highlights.
Bahrain has been witnessing a surge in Covid-19 infections over the last few days. The country registered 530 new cases on Thursday, up from a low of 15 on November 9.
National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus monitoring committee head Dr Manaf Al Qahtani had last week warned that unvaccinated and those who had recovered from Covid-19 were at risk of contracting the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. He also warned of the severity of infection among the elderly and immuno-compromised people.
The medic called on all citizens and residents to take the booster shot of a Covid-19 vaccine while abiding by all precautions put in place to combat the spread of the virus in the kingdom.
Bahrain is on Yellow Alert level until the end of January.
Meanwhile, the average number of new cases per day shot up by 197 per cent last week. The daily average rose to 286 last week (December 23-29) from 96 the week prior, the ministry said.
A total of 2,001 new infections were registered, up from 673 during the previous week. Of these, 1,717 were locally contracted while 284 were travel-related. Among those infected, 1,271 were Bahrainis and 730 expatriates.
A total of 485 people tested positive after quarantine, 539 after developing symptoms, 263 through random community screening and 430 were infected by close contacts.
“Contact tracing of a symptomatic expatriate couple, aged 62 and 56, revealed 12 positive cases across five households,” revealed the ministry.
“The cases detected were friends who had contacted each other during a gathering.”
In another incident, a symptomatic 68-year-old female citizen revealed eight positive cases across three different households. They include her children, grandchildren and domestic help.
Family gatherings have continued to be the source of the virus spread in the country, according to government data. More than 50 cases were traced to Bahraini families last month (December 2 to 22), according to the Health Ministry’s weekly contact tracing details.
The cluster cases which initiated from male and female citizens were from across 24 households. Among the infected were immediate family members, domestic workers and co-workers.
Coronavirus infections are rising across the six Gulf states after months of low or falling figures.
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