BAHRAIN aims to turn coronavirus into an illness like pneumonia and other viral infections that can be treated with readily available ‘tools’, said a senior medic.
National Taskforce to Combat Covid-19 monitoring committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani highlighted the kingdom’s wealth of information on the coronavirus, which he said was ‘more than any other virus in history’.
His statement came as the country rolled out the Covid-19 antiviral Paxlovid Pfizer, an oral pill to help fight coronavirus, the latest addition to its arsenal of pandemic weapons.
The BDF Hospital microbiologist who also cautioned that there would be no quick-fix, urged members of the public to approach the current situation with ‘caution and poise’.
“Throughout the pandemic, Bahrain was able to build on its ability to conduct tests and genetic analysis on coronavirus to identify mutations and trace contacts,” tweeted Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani.
Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani
“The national medical team contributed to establishing a database and figures based on local scientific studies.
“The Bahrain research and studies team carried out, over 24 months, many researches and continuous evaluation, which strengthened support for these efforts effectively and transparently, keeping people informed.”
The GDN reported yesterday that Bahrain has so far contributed to 30 scientific papers related to Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, with a further six more studies underway, with three others submitted for publication.
“This epidemic does not have an on/off button,” explained Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani. “We have more information about it than any other virus in history but we are still learning.
“We now have the tools to control this epidemic and must continue with life … but with caution and poise.
“Before the 1940s, millions of people died of pneumonia and other infections due to the lack of antibiotics – so the goal is to turn coronavirus into a disease that we can manage using the tools we have to control it,” he said, while reminding the importance of integrating care for mental health in the treatment protocol.
Dr Al Salman
Meanwhile, Paxlovid, which according to its manufacturers is 90 per cent efficient in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients, will be prescribed to patients based on individual evaluations, added senior Bahraini medic Dr Jameela Al Salman.
“Paxlovid drug is available in Bahrain and is part of the treatment protocol,” said Dr Al Salman, a senior member of the National Taskforce to Combat Covid-19. “The drug is administered in the form of three tablets, taken together orally, twice daily, for five days.”
The Salmaniya Medical Complex Infectious and Internal Diseases consultant reiterated that scientific studies have proven the efficacy of the pill in reducing hospitalisations, intensive care treatment and deaths from Covid-19.
Recent data also suggests it is effective against the latest Omicron variant. Among the other medicines on Bahrain’s Covid-19 treatment protocol are Sotrovimab – developed by UK’s GlaxoSmithKline and US firm Vir Biotechnology, adopted in June, Merck pill Molnupiravir and Regn-Cov2, an artificial drug for prophylaxis, approved in August and hydroxychloroquine, one of the earliest drugs to treat Covid-19.
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