BAHRAIN’S robust healthcare system has been efficiently tackling the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic without sacrificing quality, a report has pointed out.
Bahrain’s Embassy in the UK, in an analysis, highlighted the low Covid-19 positivity rate in the country which has remained below nine per cent – well within limits stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The mission also pointed out that Bahrain had conducted 4,060,011 tests until April 29, with an average of 17,000 a day.
“Bahrain’s testing strategy has consistently targeted and focused on striking a balance between random and required tests,” said the embassy on its Twitter account.
“The percentage of positive cases has been, for the most part, overwhelmingly below nine, which is well within WHO’s determination that an effective testing policy should identify no more than one positive case per 11 tests, or 9pc of tests.”
‘Percent positive’ is a critical measure because it gives an indication of how widespread infection is in the area where the testing is occurring – and whether levels of testing are keeping up with rates of disease transmission, according to journals.
The rate will be high if infections are high, or if the number of total tests is too low.
A higher per cent positive suggests higher transmission or that there are likely more people with coronavirus in the community who haven’t been tested yet.
Bahrain has the sixth highest number of testing per 1,000 people and one of the lowest Covid-19 death rates in the world, noted the study.
As of Friday, fatalities from the infection stand at 670, which accounts for 0.36pc of the cases.
“Our healthcare system has been able to absorb cases without sacrificing the quality of care or rate of recovery,” said the mission.
“Our extensive testing strategy is directed principally at close contacts, high-risk segments of the population, essential service providers and consumer-facing members of the workforce.”
The report pointed out that the UAE had the lowest death rate among the GCC countries, followed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia, in order.
The embassy said that Bahrain’s treatment protocols including admissions, therapies and post discharge follow-up “have proven effective in the face of an increasing number of Covid-19 cases”.
“Figures (symptomatic versus asymptomatic) demonstrate the extent of Bahrain’s pre-emptive testing strategy,” it said.
As of April 29, symptomatic patients accounted for 41.46pc of the total infections, while 58.54pc were asymptomatic.
“In other words, Bahrain does not depend on self-reporting by patients as the principal basis for testing.
“A substantial proportion of cases are identified and isolated prior to the development of symptoms, thus minimising the potential for onward transmission.”
The analysis also noted that Bahrain has the fourth highest number of Covid-19 vaccination doses administered for 100 people.
Campaign
Bahrain is second in the GCC, next to the UAE which stands third globally. Seychelles is first followed by Israel.
The mission also recorded the key vaccination campaign initiatives including phase three trials of the Chinese Sinopharm conducted on 7,700 volunteers and granting emergency use authorisation for five Covid-19 vaccines – Sinopharm, PfizerBioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sputnik and Johnson and Johnson.
A total of 31 centres have been set up to fast-track the inoculation procedure, it added.
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