More than 80 per cent of the population in Bahrain has so far been spared from getting infected with the coronavirus (Covid-19).
Senior medics in the country termed it as a major achievement, which they said was the result of an effective strategy adopted by the kingdom in tackling the virus.
A total of 308,008 people have been infected with the virus as of Sunday, which is 20pc of Bahrain’s estimated 1.5 million population. This includes 286,799 recoveries, 19,811 active cases and 1,398 deaths.
This means 80pc of the people in Bahrain has been successfully protected from getting infected with Covid-19, although, with a more virulent variant spreading across the globe, precautions are still in place and need to be adhered to.
Strategy
“A robust track, trace and vaccination policy has protected the vast majority in Bahrain,” American Mission Hospital (AMH) chief executive Dr George Cheriyan told the GDN.
“High vaccination rates were quickly achieved through a centralised system of monitoring the pandemic’s impact, thereby protecting lives and livelihoods.”
The GDN previously reported that Bahrain has been successfully combating the virus with its TTT policy – Trace, Test, and Treat – which tracks infected people and their contacts and helps curtail its spread.
AMH pulmonologist Dr Chellasamy Chellaraja pointed out that the country had incorporated most of the internationally-recommended strategies.
“The CDC, USA, recommends approximately 12 vaccination strategies, some of which include medical provider vaccine standardisation, vaccine ambassadors, medical reminders, home-delivered and workplace vaccination, vaccination requirements to enter facilities, and healthcare provider recommendation etc.,” he said.
“Bahrain has incorporated most of these strategies to great success at different stages of the pandemic so as to ensure almost 80pc of the population, including expatriates, have remained uninfected with the virus.”
However, this may change as new Covid-19 variants come into play, added the expert.
“Bahrain’s strategy of sustained information and vaccination, including a booster dose campaign and vaccination of teenagers, has contributed to lesser overall infections,” said Royal Bahrain Hospital internist Dr Sunil Rao.
Unique
“The traffic light system is unique and offers a clear stream of instructions for people and businesses alike.”
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry highlighted its updated Covid-19 protocols, which include clear guidelines for responding to varying levels of symptom severity.
Those with shortness of breath, constant chest pain at rest, persistent fever for more than 48 hours (over 39C), oxygen levels less than 93pc, loss of consciousness, coughing up blood, constant vomiting, inability to eat, and little or no urine output, must call 999 immediately.
Those with a 38.5C fever for more than two days, a strong cough, vomiting for more than two days, diarrhoea for more than two days, dizziness, moderate abdominal pain for more than two days, and any other medical needs other than Covid-19 can visit the clinic at Bahrain International Hospital.
Finally, active cases with fever (37.5C to 38.4C), loss of taste and smell, stuffy/runny nose or sneezing, sore throat, body ache, muscle pain and mild headache can stay at home and monitor symptoms.
In its guidelines released on Sunday the ministry directed all active Covid-19 cases to be isolated in a separate room with own bathroom - those with green shield for seven days and others for 10 days.
“An appointment for a medical assessment will be scheduled for active cases aged 50 years or above with chronic medical conditions,” it said.
The ministry also explained ‘close contacts of positive cases’ as those:
Who came in direct contact for a timeframe of 15 minutes and were within less than two metres without wearing a facemask.
Who spent 15 minutes or more with an infected person in a closed space without proper ventilation even if they were wearing a facemask.
Those living with the infected or who came in direct contact, such as a handshake or touching the same space.
“You are considered as a contact if you contacted the person who tested positive, but they showed no symptoms, on the day of the test result or two days prior,” it added.
The Health Ministry had earlier announced that those identified as contacts who sport a green shield on the BeAware app are not subject to precautionary quarantine, whereas the others must go into a seven-day quarantine.
The ministry also revised the rapid test protocols last week, by including swabs of both the throat and the nose, following the emergence of the Omicron variant.
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