MORE than 5,500 new Covid-19 cases were identified during the past week, more than double the number registered during the week prior.
A total of 5,644 coronavirus infections emerged between December 30 and January 5, up from 2,001 cases during the previous week, marking a 182 per cent increase.
Of the new cases, 4,888 were due to local transmission while 756 were identified amongst travellers. The previous week, 284 cases emerged amongst travellers, increasing by 166pc during the most recent reporting period.
Out of the cases this week, 3,488 were Bahrainis while 2,156 were expatriates, the Health Ministry said in its weekly report.
Close contact tracing of positive cases led to 1,186 infections being identified while 1,405 tested positive after developing symptoms.
A total of 1,088 cases emerged during random community testing – an increase of more than 300pc from 263 the previous week.
A total of 1,209 individuals tested positive after completing their quarantine.
The Health Ministry also identified three clusters of Covid-19 cases that emerged amongst Bahraini families during gatherings during the past week.
A 31-year-old Bahraini woman tested positive after exhibiting symptoms and testing of family members, with whom she had come into direct contact at a gathering, revealed 12 more cases across five households. This included her parents, siblings, nephew, cousins and domestic helper.
Meanwhile, a 75-year-old Bahraini man tested positive after exhibiting symptoms. Contact tracing revealed eight more cases in his family across three households, including his wife, daughters and grandchildren, all of whom had direct contact with each other during a family gathering.
A 30-year-old Bahraini woman and her 17-year-old sister also tested positive upon exhibiting symptoms after a family gathering.
“Contact tracing revealed nine positive cases across three different households,” the ministry added.
“The cases detected are family-related and include the first index case’s son, the sister’s parents, brothers, sister-in-law and nephews, all of whom had direct contact with each other during a family gathering.”
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