A FULLY-EQUIPPED medical facility has been set up in Sitra to accommodate thousands of people as part of efforts to combat the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) and prepare to receive hundreds of Bahrainis arriving from abroad.
Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh, accompanied by other officials, visited the field hospital dedicated for the care of travellers returning from abroad from different countries infected with the virus.
In an statement released last night, the ministry said the travellers will undergo medical tests at the facility which will determine the need for isolation or quarantine according to global measures in place by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“Precautionary measures and preventative and control strategies are being implemented swiftly,” said Ms Al Saleh.
“The most important is work conducted at the field hospital for those coming from abroad in line with directives issued by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, to harness all the energies and capabilities to combat the virus and ensure the safety of all citizens and residents.”
She praised efforts exerted by medical personnel to ensure the highest quality of health services and treatment for all those returning from abroad while urging them to double efforts in preparation to receive travellers returning from countries infected with the virus.
Ms Al Saleh was accompanied on the visit with ministry under-secretary Dr Waleed Al Manea and other health officials.
Meanwhile, BDF Hospital infectious diseases consultant and microbiologist and Coronavirus Control and Monitoring Committee Head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani revealed the facility has the ability to accommodate 3,000 people.
He was speaking during a Press conference held last night at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research, at the BDF.
“We have allocated units in Sitra that can accommodate 3,000 people and we have studied various plans regarding our brothers coming back from Iran which we will later announce,” he added.
“Plans will reviewed by the main committee chaired by Supreme Council for Health Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and once he approves the plan he sees fit it will be announced.
“Those who have returned from Iran will be isolated in a specified location and they will be tested and based on the result - if it’s negative they will be transferred to specifically designated quarantine locations - if it is positive they will be divided into two groups.
“The first group, of positive patients who don’t exhibit any symptoms, will be transferred to a specified location and others who are positive and exhibiting symptoms will be transferred to another location.”
“We have the capacity to accommodate all those coming in.”
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