Members of the public have been urged not to ignore symptoms – cough, fever and shortness of breath – and risk further spreading Covid-19, as active cases of coronavirus in the country crossed the 10,000-mark.
National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 Monitoring Committee head Dr Manaf Al Qahtani said it was critical to get tested immediately in order to track, trace and treat the illness, thereby limiting the contagion in the community.
As of January 8, Bahrain had 10,218 active cases, and those needing hospital treatment had doubled in the previous four days – from 13 cases on January 4 to 26 on Saturday.
Active cases under hospital care doubled in four days
In the last eight days of December (Dec 24 to 31), an average of more than 2,000 active cases were reported daily, which more than doubled in the next eight days (Jan 1 to Jan 8) – an average of around 6,500 cases.
“Take the test as soon as you notice symptoms and isolate yourself,” Dr Al Qahtani urged. “This will allow us to treat you for the infection with the appropriate medical care, thereby preventing the virus’ spread in the community.”
Dr Al Qahtani’s warning follows the Health Ministry revealing on Saturday that one of three recent fatalities from Covid-19 complications in Bahrain – an elderly with underlying conditions – had ignored symptoms and had not received a booster shot of a vaccine against the virus.
He went on to dismiss the numerous spoof stories about long-term harm and myths about vaccinations being circulated by anti-vaxxers on social media which have caused unnecessary worry to many.
Active Covid-19 cases in Bahrain crossed 10,000
Vaccines
“We have a very long experience with vaccines, and there is no scientific evidence from my experience in my field of work and specialisation that the vaccine causes diseases after years,” Dr Al Qahtani responded to concerns.
“The effect of the vaccine components does not last in the human body,” explained the BDF hospital microbiologist. “However, what is the effect of the virus itself on the health of the human body – we know the answer to this, and there is data to prove it.”
The number of active cases in the country had previously only surpassed 10,000 on April 6 last year with 10,045 cases, which increased throughout the month to a peak of 28,798 on May 30.
The GDN previously reported that the month of May last year saw an unusual spike in Covid-19 numbers following the Eid Al Fitr celebrations. From May 19, more than 2,700 Covid-19 infections were reported every day, with the highest daily tally of 3,274 cases on May 29.
Subsequently, the number of active cases fell into the hundreds, reaching a low of 977 on July 16. Despite exceeding 1,000 cases in August, the number was effectively reduced to 207, the lowest since January of last year. However, by the end of last month, the number had once again surpassed 1,000.
The number of active cases in hospitals has also steadily increased, from 13 on January 4 to 15 the next day, 16 on January 6, 23 on Friday and 26 on Saturday. During this time, there have also been four cases that have required critical care treatment.
Meanwhile, Bahrain ranks fifth globally in the number of Covid-19 booster shots administered per 100 people. According to the scientific online publication ‘Our World in Data’, the distribution rate of the third vaccine jab in the kingdom is 50 per 100 as of Friday. The kingdom is the only GCC nation on the top 10 of the list – UAE stands 14th (37). Chile ranks first (60), followed by Iceland (56), Denmark (52) and UK (51). The rate is the ‘total number of vaccine booster doses administered, divided by the total population of the country’.
Bahrain has administered the third jab to 879,486 people as of January 7. Booster shots, according to experts, produce virus-fighting antibodies capable of combating the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
World Health Organisation (WHO) has cautioned on the Omicron variant spreading faster than the Delta and causing infections in the vaccinated and recovered. WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan also added it would be ‘unwise’ to conclude from early evidence that Omicron was milder than previous variants.
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