Societal partnership crucial to achieve Coronavirus (COVID-19) taskforce objectives

Manama, Feb. 28 (BNA): A press conference was organised this evening by the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), at the Crown Prince Center for Training and Medical Research, regarding the precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and safeguard the health of citizens and residents. During the conference, Infectious Diseases Consultant & Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and Member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Manaf Al Qahtani, stressed the following points: The National Task Force is working around the clock to ensure the safety of citizens and residents. Community partnership is crucial in achieving the objectives of the National Task Force, which reflect the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, emphasising that the whole community must come together in vigilant participation against the virus. Dr. Al Qahtani reiterated the position of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, that COVID-19 does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion or social class, and that efforts to confront the illness are the collective responsibility of all members of the community. Furthermore, Dr. Al Qahtani stressed that all citizens and residents who have visited Iran during the month of February must call 444 to schedule an appointment for examination, adding that they may be a source of the virus. In this regard, Dr. Al Qahtani underlined the importance of both following the instructions issued by government officials and supporting the work of the Kingdom’s health professionals. Dr. Al Qahtani noted that the public awareness campaign to combat COVID-19 currently underway included raising awareness and providing guidance, adding that the campaign is using nine languages to ensure that it reaches all citizens, residents and visitors. Dr. Al Qahtani stressed that the government’s public health decisions are intended to limit the spread of the virus and to ensure the safety of all members of Bahrain’s community, noting that the plan to tackle the virus is ensuring containment and safeguarding against the spread of the condition. Furthermore, Dr. Al Qahtani highlighted that steps are being taken to ensure the elimination of the virus from the Kingdom and that that infected individuals are being treated comprehensively. He added that there is constant and regular coordination across government to account for all arrivals across all ports of entry to guarantee effective examination, quarantine, isolation and treatment, adding that work is continuing to increase the Kingdom’s capacity to absorb any new cases that might emerge. Dr. Al Qahtani went on to commend the high levels of public awareness demonstrated by citizens and residents following the guidelines and instructions issued by the relevant authorities. Dr. Al Qahtani also hailed the high numbers of inquiries being made by members of the public, pointing out that this stood as a clear demonstration of the Kingdom’s awareness of the need for constant cooperation to successfully contain the virus. Dr. Al Qahtani reiterated that the symptoms of COVID-19 are high temperature, coughing and difficulty breathing. In his statements at the conference, Colonel Dr. Muhammad Khalifa Al Benghadir, head of the Executive Office of the National Disaster Management Committee, said that the 2292 people who returned from Iran during the month of February have been monitored as part of the measures taken to protect the health, safety and security of the Kingdom. He added that of these, 310 citizens had responded to the requests made by the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus and scheduled examinations by calling 444. Dr. Al Benghadir stressed that all of those who have returned from Iran must immediately call ‪444 to schedule appointments in order to ensure own safety and that of all citizens and residents. Later, Consultant of Infectious and Internal Diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex Dr. Jameela Al Salman confirmed that the health condition of all the inflicted was stable.