Bahrain News: Bahrain tops GCC in recovery rates

BAHRAIN has retained its top position in Covid-19 recovery rates in the GCC – with 99.1 per cent of patients resuming a healthy life.

The country has, until last night, recorded 270,816 cases of which 268,299 have recovered. A total of 1,384 patients have died since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Qatar follows close behind with a 98.6pc recovery rate followed by Kuwait (97.6pc), Saudi (97) and the UAE (96.8pc).

Oman is last on the chart with 95.9pc of its people recovering from the infection.

Bahraini consultant family physician Dr Hind Al Sindi praised the visionary leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the effective and pro-active strategies adopted by the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19.

Dr Al Sindi

“The availability and accessibility of vaccines for all age groups, with emphasis on high risk patients, helped boost the immunity of the community and helped the country tackle Covid-19,” she said.

Dr Al Sindi also indicated the vital role of drugs like Sotrovimab in reducing fatalities.

“The launch of proven drugs such as Sotrovimab – approved by the National Health Regulatory Authority for mild to moderate symptomatic patients – helped in increasing recovery rates and reducing complications,” she said.

Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody that is specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is designed to block the virus’ attachment and entry into human cell. Bahrain last month approved the emergency use of the drug, which reportedly reduces the risk of death from Covid-19 complications by 85pc. The FDA-approved medicine by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is administered to patients at the Al Shamil Medical Centre, A’ali.

Bahrain also approved Actemra or Tocilizimab, yet another FDA authorised drug, to treat hospitalised adults and paediatric patients (two years of age and older) of Covid-19, last month.

The country had acquired hydroxychloroquine in April last year, one of the earliest drugs to treat the infection.

In a latest move, the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) last week authorised the use of Enovid nasal spray to treat Covid-19 as part of a clinical study.

Bahrain has always maintained an impressive recovery rate of almost 98pc, except during the month of May when it dropped to 88pc, along with almost all other parameters of the infection measures.

From mid-May post Eid Al Fitr festivities, the kingdom started registering a spike in cases.

More than 2,700 Covid-19 infections were reported every day from May 19, with the highest ever daily tally of 3,274 cases registered on May 29. Covid-19 deaths also remained high with a daily average of more than 20 during that time.

However, Bahrain immediately launched the four-tier traffic light alert system and fast-tracked the inoculation campaign – regaining its grip on the situation.

Cases and fatalities declined while the recovery rate once gain bounced back to 96pc.

The country has also attributed the high recovery rates to its TTT policy – Trace, Test and Treat – a proven strategy which tracks people infected and traces their contacts, helping to reduce the spread of the virus. Bahrain has been doing an average of 13,000 to 15,000 tests daily.

“The Bahraini community today is an example of excellence as witnessed by the World Health Organisation chief during his recent visit to Bahrain,” Dr Al Sindi said.

“He admired the process of identifying Covid-19 cases, tracking and treating them and further following up.

“The awareness of the Bahraini society on precautions like wearing facemask at all the times, hand washing, sanitising and social distancing is also commendable.

“Let us continue adhering to these with utmost caution so that we can overcome the pandemic together.”

raji@gdn.com.bh

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