BAHRAIN has been witnessing a steep drop in Covid-19 deaths since the beginning of this year, with the fatality rate dropping by 90 per cent last month.
While 46 deaths were recorded during the peak of the pandemic in February, six fatalities were reported in August and five in September. One Covid-19 patient died this month on Monday, taking the total toll to 1,521 since the infection broke out in March 2020.
Fourteen people died of complications from the coronavirus in January, 17 in March, four in April, 13 in May, five in June while 16 fatalities were recorded in July.
Covid-19 related deaths
A total of 1,042 people died last year compared with 352 between March and December 2020.
The first death in the kingdom was reported on March 16, 2020.
The death toll until last night (1,521) is 0.22pc of the total number of cases.
With the annual flu season hitting hard, people have raised concern over the symptoms of both infections, which are deceptively similar. The GDN reported last month that an estimated 75pc of patients reporting at hospitals were presenting with upper respiratory symptoms like sore throat, body pain, vomiting and loose stools, which could also be an indication of a Covid-19 Omicron infection.
Senior Bahraini medic and National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 monitoring committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani addressed the concern on social media.
“I get a lot of questions about severe respiratory symptoms similar to that of the coronavirus, with the result of the test being negative,” he said on Twitter.
“We are in the midst of the flu season and the symptoms as well as preventive measures are similar. There is an annual vaccination, according to the type of virus strain,” he said.
The BDF Hospital microbiologist urged people to continue taking vaccines, underlining the need to be cautious.
“I understand the stress and fatigue of taking vaccines or even talking about it,” he said.
“But do not forget that we are in the season of flu and cold now. Take all the tools that strengthen your immunity, such as the flu vaccine, food, physical fitness, and adequate sleep. Wear a mask in case of symptoms, and wash hands so that we do not spread the seasonal infection.”
He also warned of other symptoms such as severe body pain and muscle spasms, accompanied by cold and persistent body temperature, which medics in the country endorsed as being reported in hospital emergencies and out-patient departments.
“In cases of such symptoms, you should drink a lot of water, and visit a doctor to ensure that muscle enzymes (creatine kinase – CK) in the blood are normal,” Dr Al Qahtani said.
High CK levels ‘can be harmful’ and intravenous nutrients would be essential, he added.
CK is an enzyme found in skeletal muscle, heart muscle and brain, which when damaged, would leak the enzyme into the bloodstream leading to muscle injury or other complications.
Meanwhile, new cases of Covid-19 also increased to 456 on Tuesday from 291 the previous day – a 56.7pc spike.
The month started off with 246 cases in line with the declining trend witnessed in the last five days of September – from 423 infections on September 26 to 288 on September 30.
However, the first week of the month saw cases rise again.
New daily cases in October
October 2 recorded 405 cases, while it went up to 465 the next day and 439 on October 4. The lowest daily cases this month was recorded on October 8 – 195.
As of Tuesday, Bahrain recorded 684,229 infections including 2,533 active cases, 680,175 recoveries and 1,521 deaths. There are 15 active cases in hospital and four under critical care.
raji@gdnmedia.bh
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