PEOPLE in Bahrain have been cautioned against a false sense of security as the nation is set to go “Green” from tomorrow.
The green level – the lowest alert level within the Covid-19 Alert Level Traffic Light System – is based on positivity rates.
The system consists of four levels – Green, Orange, Yellow and Red – based on the average percentage of cases to tests, in addition to the level of occupancy in intensive care units.
“We have not yet overcome the virus,” warned National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) senior member Dr Jameela Al Salman yesterday.
Motto
“The drop in the number of cases, fatalities and those receiving intensive care treatment during the current stage does not mean we have overcome the virus,” she added.
“We caution you not to neglect your precautions over a false sense of security.
“Protection and commitment is our motto at this stage. Protection comes through Covid-19 vaccination and booster jabs, as well as adhering to the protocols.”
Dr Al Salman, who is also the Salmaniya Medical Complex infectious and internal diseases consultant, was speaking during a Press conference held remotely from the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research, Riffa.
Also present during the briefing were taskforce monitoring committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani, Health Ministry public health assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Hajeri and Education Ministry’s human resources assistant under-secretary Dr Mohammed Jumaa.
All parameters of Covid-19 infection including the daily number of cases, fatalities, active cases and those under treatment and critical care have been declining steadily, after an unprecedented spike in May and June.
As of August 31, there is only one person under critical care, seven receiving treatment and active cases are 950.
Responding to queries on possible resurgence of infection once the country steps into the green zone, Dr Al Salman cited the need to strictly adhere to the precautionary measures.
“As we know, the virus has variants and we must ensure that we strictly follow the precautionary measures even when we are in the green zone.
“We have seen different waves of the virus hitting countries, mainly the vulnerable population, and to prevent this we must observe social distancing, wear facemasks “correctly” and sanitise our hands, among others.”
Bahrain has been in the green zone only for three days – July 16 to 18 – ever since the country adopted the traffic light mechanism earlier that month.
This was ahead of the Arafah and Eid Al Adha holidays, when the kingdom adopted ‘orange’ and subsequently moved into the ‘yellow’.
Protocols
Meanwhile, Health Ministry public health assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Hajeri urged people to follow ‘green’ level protocols adapted when the rolling average percentage of positive cases out of tests carried out is below two per cent for 14 days.
The taskforce had also set a target to administer booster doses to either 80 per cent or 200,000 of those aged above 40 in the eligible population for the kingdom to step into the green zone.
Bahrain achieved the former (80pc) on Tuesday, while the latter six days before, on August 24.
“With 80pc of people aged above 40 vaccinated with a booster dose, we would like to appreciate all for showing awareness and national responsibility towards themselves and their surroundings,” added Dr Al Hajeri.
She also explained that the country has taken steps to prevent infection spreading from people arriving in the country.
“We have made three PCR tests mandatory for people arriving into Bahrain to help in early tracing and prevention of the spread of infection in the community,” she said, adding that the cost for the tests has been increased to BD36 from BD24.
The Civil Aviation Affairs had earlier announced the need for three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for people arriving – on the first, fifth and 10th day of arrival, depending on the country they were coming from.
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