National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19): The Kingdom’s basic reproductive number (R0) stands at 1.4, for the past 14 days

Manama, May 6 (BNA): The National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) today held a press conference at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research at the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, to highlight COVID-19 developments within the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Walid Al-Manea, began by reiterating the commitment of the Ministry and various authorities to combatting the spread of COVID-19, and commended the awareness demonstrated by the Kingdom’s community by following all health guidelines during the holy month of Ramadan. Dr. Al-Manea highlighted that the Ministry is monitoring local COVID-19 developments with a number of standardised global indicators including the basic reproductive number (R0), which is the average number of secondary infections arising from a single active COVID-19 case. The R0 in Bahrain stands at 1.14, for the past 14 days. Dr. Al-Manea emphasised the importance of continuing to follow all precautionary measures aimed at mitigating the spread of the COVID-19. In this regard, Dr. Al-Manea noted that the Ministry today will launch a dedicated chat service (chatbot), in collaboration with WhatsApp and Facebook. The chatbot will use the global communications platform Infobip and will further raise awareness and provide information on local and international COVID-19 developments, in Arabic and English. Regarding the resumption of operations at commercial and industrial businesses, Dr. Al-Manea highlighted the importance of enterprises following disinfection guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. These essential measures include installing spaced floor markings for queueing at the entrance of the stores to maintain social distancing guidelines, as well as ensuring employees and customers wear face masks at all times. Dr. Al-Manea concluded by noting that the Kingdom’s isolation and treatment centre capacity stands at 2573 beds, of which 1950 are occupied, and quarantine centre capacity stands at 2474, of which 391 beds are occupied. For her part, the Undersecretary for Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, (MOICT) Eman Al-Doseri, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to further strengthening precautionary measures across the commercial sector, and noted the importance of enterprises vigilantly following the precautionary measures and social distancing guidelines intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and safeguarding the community. On this note, Al-Doseri further highlighted that MOICT will intensify its inspections across all commercial enterprises and urged all citizens and residents to inform authorities if there are any violations. Al-Doseri reiterated that, in line with the decisions of the Government’s Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, commercial and industrial businesses providing goods or services directly to customers can resume usual operations starting 07 May 2020 at 19h00, provided that the following conditions are met: • All employees and customers are required to wear face masks inside the premises • Facilities must reduce the number of individuals present at any one time, limiting overcrowding, and ensuring social distancing guidelines are followed • Stores and facilities are to be regularly and thoroughly disinfected, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines • Appropriately spaced floor markings for queueing at the entrance of the store are placed, to maintain social distancing guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health Al-Doseri further noted that the private sector is set to continue to abide by the following guidelines: • Encourage remote working where possible • Minimise the number of employees present in an office at any one time, and to ensure social distancing guidelines are observed • Reduce the number of employees using transportation services provided by the employer Further to the above, Al-Doseri added that movie theatres and all commercial sports gymnasiums, fitness studios, swimming pools, and centres for recreational activities are to remain closed. Additionally, restaurants, tourist facilities and places serving food are to remain limited to delivery and take-out only and shisha cafes are to remain closed and limited to delivery and take-out of food only. Salons are to remain closed, all non-essential medical services provided by private health clinics are to remain suspended and grocery stores will continue to designate the first hour of operation for the elderly as well as pregnant women in order to reduce their interaction with others. The Infectious Disease Consultant & Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Lt. Col. Manaf Al Qahtani, emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to keeping abreast of international COVID-19 developments, and has recently established an ICU field hospital in Sitra to ensure services remain readily available to all citizens and residents of Bahrain. Dr. Al Qahtani added that the ICU field hospital was built and prepared in a record time of 14 days, is fully equipped with a capacity of 152 beds, 152 respirators, is staffed by a specialised medical team of 55 doctors and 250 nurses, and includes an on-site medical laboratory, X-ray machines, mobile dialysis units and an integrated store of medical equipment and drugs. In addition to this, Dr. Al Qahtani noted that the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research has trained more than 1500 doctors, nurses and medical assistants. This training included various intensive practical workshops, the latest guidelines for fighting and treating COVID-19, dealing with existing active COVID-19 cases and how to manage the latest respirators, as well as training in the field of respiratory therapy and dealing with existing critical cases. The Consultant of Infectious and Internal Diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Dr. Jameela Al Salman, then reviewed the health status of active COVID-19 cases, confirming that there are 1950 active cases in the Kingdom, of which 1 is critical. Dr. Al Salman further added that 1762 patients have fully recovered and have been discharged from their designated isolation and treatment centres. Dr. Al Salman highlighted the importance of following all health and social distancing guidelines during the holy month of Ramadan, and to continue washing hands regularly using water and soap, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, frequently disinfecting surfaces and objects that are used regularly, covering the mouth when coughing, immediately disposing of used napkins and tissues, and avoiding direct contact with anyone with a fever or a cough. Dr. Al Salman concluded the press conference by noting that individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact the 444 hotline number and follow the guidelines provided, adding that wearing a mask is pivotal to ensuring citizens and residents remain safeguarded from the virus.