OFFICIALS last night assured people in Bahrain that the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) is under control, with the number of recovered patients increasing.
They also insisted that not a single case of local transmission within society or community had been registered in the country.
The Health Ministry announced last night that 30 people were discharged after completing the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Among those released were 16 Bahraini men, 12 Bahraini women, a Chinese man and an Indonesian woman while other cases in quarantine are being constantly monitored by a specialised medical team.
“This raises the number of those who left quarantine to a total of 68 people,” said BDF Hospital infectious diseases consultant and microbiologist and Coronavirus Control and Monitoring Committee Head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani.
He was addressing a Press conference at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research at the BDF held last night (Mar 8) in the presence of Covid-19 Taskforce head Dr Jameela Al Salman.
Lt Col Al Qahtani also revealed that more than 7,000 people were tested since precautionary measures were stepped up to contain the virus outbreak.
“We tested 7,131 people and this is a number I’m personally proud of because we are the first country that undertook such a massive amount of testing in comparison to the size of Bahrain,” he said.
“Of the 7,131 tests, we have 85 positive cases that includes 79 active cases and six cases discharged from isolation.”
However, post the conference the ministry’s website updated the statistics indicating that eight more cases had recovered, bringing down the total number of active cases to 71.
“There is not a single case of local transmission within society or community, because everyone who tested positive came from abroad or mixed (in Bahrain) with those who were sick.”
Lt Col Al Qahtani further revealed that the 2,292 individuals who returned from Iran throughout February were all tested using the ministry’s mobile testing units including up to 120 individuals who were in contact with them.
“We have tested the 2,292 individuals and those in contact with them, which resulted in identifying only nine positive cases,” he added.
“Five people are those who returned from abroad and four are those who mixed with them - and all transmission was in the house from their own relatives, who have returned from abroad.”
The official stressed that plans are in place to ensure community spread remains at zero while highlighting that plans are in place to contain the outbreak
Meanwhile, Dr Al Salman assured the public that the active cases are mostly in stable condition with no symptoms, and continue to be kept in isolation.
“We have only one case that requires care and more cases will be released from isolation soon to go back to their homes,” she said.
Dr Al Salman urged people in home-quarantine to and avoid going outdoors and should not share their personal items with other family members.
She said if they feel any symptoms of the virus they should immediately contact 444 and a health professional will assist them.
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