MANAMA: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: A stark warning by the top health officials in the Kingdom on Wednesday urged citizens and residents to avoid gatherings during new-year holidays to control possible spread of the COVID-19.
The National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) held a virtual briefing on Wednesday in which the panel reiterated to strictly adhere to the safety and health guidelines to keep the spread of the virus under control.
“The average daily cases increased during the period from December 24 to 28 by 34% compared to the first three weeks of the month, and this increase requires everyone to double their efforts and continue cautiously during the current stage of pandemic,” Dr. Walid Al-Manea, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, told the Press Conference.
He said that in the past few weeks COVID-19 cases were increased gradually, a worrying some sign amidst efforts to combat the pandemic.
Unfortunately, he said, we witnessed a gradual increase in the number of existing cases during the month of December, as the average number of new cases from the percentage of daily examinations in the first three weeks of December was approximately 1.5%, then rose to an average of 2.4%.
Dr. Walid Al-Manea, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health was also joined by Lt. Col. Dr. Manaf Al Qahtani-Member of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Dr. Jameela Al Salman-Consultant of Infectious and Internal Diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex during the remote media briefing.
“The national vaccination campaign continues according to the remaining stock of quantities that arrived in the Kingdom until now.”
“As we approach the end of the year 2020, we stress the need to avoid gatherings during the New Year’s holiday in order to preserve the safety of everyone,” he said.
“We reiterate that we are all responsible for the increase and decrease in the number of existing cases, and we are all together with our awareness and commitment that we can limit the spread of the Corona virus until its elimination,” he said.
“More than a million vaccinations are carried out by several companies, according to the continuous follow-up of the developments of vaccine trials worldwide,” he said.
“The capacity of the isolation and treatment centers is 6078 beds, of which 540 beds are occupied, which represents 8.9% of the total capacity,” Dr Al-Manae, said.
“It is important to keep the gatherings of the same family in the home and social surroundings shortened within the usual and limited range, and open outdoor spaces instead of closed ones, in addition to adhering to all precautionary measures and preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus,” Dr Walid stressed.
“Caution is required with the presence of danger, and it is necessary not to be complacent, complacent and lenient in applying the precautionary measures and instructions issued by the concerned authorities to limit the spread of the virus
“The number of existing cases for which optional home health isolation was applied reached 1474 cases for lack of symptoms and their conformity with the specified conditions, as for the percentage of people recovering from the total existing cases, it reached 97.43% of the existing cases, while the death rate was 0.38% of the existing cases,” Dr Walid added.
“Responsive immunity varies from one individual to another, and sufficient immunity may not be formed to protect against infection with the virus, but vaccination provides protection from moderate to severe infection, so those who have been vaccinated must carefully continue to adhere to the precautionary measures to protect themselves, their families and the community environment,” Dr. Manaf Al Qahtani-Member of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) told the Press conference.
“The number of vaccinated people reached 56,041 citizens and residents of the Kingdom. Within only 13 days of the start of the vaccination process, we thank all individuals for their acceptance and eagerness to receive the vaccination and maintain the health and safety of everyone,” Dr Al-Qahtani, added.
“The national campaign for vaccination continues, vaccinations are available, and vaccination dates are determined according to the remaining stock until new batches arrive, and Bahrain was one of the first countries to apply for vaccinations from companies producing them, as they requested more than a million vaccinations from several companies,” he said.
“We are closely following the date of the World Health Organization on the emergence of new variants of the virus related to genetic changes to the behavior of the virus in a number of countries of the world, and the national medical team to address the Corona virus and the concerned authorities follow up developments regarding the new strain of the virus,” he said.
“The high percentage shown by the contact tracing mechanism for existing cases in the large family reflects the importance of continuing vigilance and adherence to all precautionary measures in various times and places, and not tolerating them in the extended family range, especially with the need to reduce gatherings as much as possible,” he said.
“Around 39% of the existing cases transmitted the Corona virus as a result of contact in the vicinity of the family from December 1st to 28 December, so we stress the need to minimize the number of the gatherings in the vicinity of the same family as possible and avoid them in the vicinity of the larger family to limit the spread of the virus in more than one different family,” he said.
“To progress towards achieving a further decrease in the number of existing cases, not increasing them, so everyone must continue to adhere to the precautionary measures, preventive measures and instructions issued by the concerned authorities to limit the spread of the virus in order to protect you, your family and your community,” he said, adding that he would like to stress the importance of avoiding gatherings during the New Year holidays to limit the spread of the virus.
“Let us put the interest of the homeland and the interests of everyone before our eyes, in order to reach the goal and preserve public health,” he asserted.
“The numbers of cases fluctuates between increase and decrease, which require all of us to continue cautiously and to be careful to adhere to the precautionary measures and instructions issued to limit the spread of the virus,” Dr Jameela Al Salman said, adding the ICU cases reaching 10 and the cases whose health condition required treatment reaching 25 cases, while 2004 cases were in a stable condition out of the total number of existing cases that reached 2014, while 89,804 cases have so far recovered,” she said.
Dr Al-Salman reiterated that the danger still exists and caution is required for the health and safety of everyone, and every individual, based on his patriotic duty, must start by himself and urge members of his immediate family and his social surroundings to proceed cautiously by adhering to the preventive measures and measures.
“Bahrain ranks very advanced globally in the rates of examination per thousand people, and the rate of cure from the virus is also one of the highest rates in the world, and we wish with your awareness that we continue to achieve achievements and we hope at the same time that we will not witness an increase in the number of deaths due to any recklessness or indulgence,” she said.
“Continuing adherence to the precautionary measures at this stage should be everyone’s determination and determination to achieve the desired goal,” she asserted.
“It is important to continue adhering to the standards of social distancing and to wear masks outside the home in all places and times. It is also necessary to wear masks within the same family when meeting those who have underlying diseases and health conditions or the elderly who are more at risk.
“Getting vaccination is a way to build antibodies to fight the Coronavirus, and this immunity acquired from vaccination varies from person to person. Pre-emptive plans are continuing to confront the virus, but we need to support everyone by following precautionary measures and not tolerating them, while realizing the danger of complacency in any instructions issued by the concerned authorities,” she said.
“More cautiously proceeding through adherence to the instructions issued is what we seek to support the national efforts exerted to limit the spread of the virus and preserve the safety of everyone
“We ask everyone to abide by avoiding gatherings during the New Year’s holiday, and to follow social distancing standards and wear masks at all times and places.”
