SIX vacant buildings in Hidd are being prepared to be used as quarantine facilities for Coronavirus (Covid-19) as precautionary measures are being stepped up.
Health Ministry Acting Under-Secretary Dr Mariam Al Hajri said the multi-storey buildings located in the Dry Dock’s industrial area are being furnished and equipped with over 400 beds to house individuals who arrive from affected countries to ensure the virus does not spread in Bahrain.
It comes as Bahrain has registered 33 positive cases of Covid-19, all arriving from Iran via indirect flights.
Buildings
During a Press briefing held yesterday following a meeting with MPs and Shura Council members at the National Assembly Complex in Gudaibiya, Dr Al Hajri said one of the buildings is ready and cases have been transferred for a 14-day quarantine.
Dr Al Hajri, who is also assistant under-secretary for public health, said the patients receiving treatment for the virus are in stable condition and under constant monitoring, with no instances of severe cases being moved to the intensive care unit (ICU).
“There are six buildings that are being furnished and equipped for 400 beds in the Dry Dock industrial area in co-ordination with the BDF’s Bahrain Royal Medical Services,” she said.
“One has been ready since late Tuesday night to isolate cases for a period of 14 days that have tested negative but have arrived from affected areas.
Safety
“This is for their own safety and the safety of their families and others surrounding them, to ensure the virus does not spread while ensuring national security and public health, considering there is an incubation period.”
The GDN reported yesterday that all patients – Bahraini and Saudi nationals – who have tested positive for the virus arrived at BIA from Iran, via indirect flights. All of them, except for the first one, a 26-year-old Bahraini man, were caught at the airport and immediately transferred to the dedicated isolation facility.
Dr Al Hajri yesterday confirmed that all passengers who were onboard the flight with the 26-year-old Bahraini man have been tested, with efforts underway to ensure treatment and monitoring of patients.
“We have checked all the passengers on the plane that arrived with the first Bahraini who tested positive, plus people are aware as several came forward even before we called them,” she said.
“In total we have checked 1,012 cases.
“All of those who tested positive are being monitored regularly by our medics at the Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Medical Centre at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), which means their cases are simple and there has been no progression that required moving anyone to the ICU.
During the Press briefing, she also responded to a proposal passed by MPs on Tuesday to open the door for volunteers including unemployed or retired doctors and nurses, certified first aid practitioners and the Bahrain Red Crescent Society, to act as a back-up medical team.
She said the proposal was being reviewed and needed to be assessed depending on the need for various specialisations.
“As for Parliament’s proposal to have volunteers, we are reviewing it but we can’t bring just any medic on board, only those who are needed and trained on the specific requirements to combat such illnesses – they will be called in as back-up if necessary,” she added.
The ministry’s public health consultant Dr Ghada Alzayani, who was also present at the meeting, said strict procedures were being followed on how to deal with passengers arriving from affected countries.
Bahrain has urged citizens to avoid travelling to China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea due to the outbreak of Covid-19, while it has imposed a travel ban to Iran.
Strict entry restrictions have also been introduced to limit movement from these countries.
“(In the beginning) we had challenges related to separate air travel tickets which has been overcome as we are now aware of who is arriving and from where, even before their arrival to Bahrain,” said Dr Alzayani.
“This is also the case with ships that dock, as we have a manifest 72 hours prior and we are ready.”
During yesterday’s meeting with legislators, health promotion director Dr Wafa Al Sharbati briefed them on public awareness campaigns that were being stepped up, while Covid-19 Task Force head Dr Jameela Al Salman briefed them on the latest procedures being undertaken by the authorities.
Quarantine
Meanwhile, ministry contagious diseases consultant Dr Safa Al Khawaja said three of the 33 patients entered Bahrain before Iran declared its cases, and were under home quarantine.
“They initially tested negative but follow-up tests found them positive.”
The flu-like disease is believed to have originated from wildlife in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, with more than 81,279 people infected and 2,770 killed, spanning 30 countries. In neighbouring Iran, 19 people have died from the virus, the highest number outside China.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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