The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bahrain has gathered the ambassadors of various diplomatic missions accredited to the Kingdom—including the Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain H.E. Alfonso Ver—to discuss various efforts undertaken to combat coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The briefing, headed by H.E. Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, discussed the initiatives implemented by Bahrain to prevent the spread of the disease. One of those efforts includes the imposition of travel bans and restrictions to passengers coming from countries such as China, Iran, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand.
Also, the Kingdom had restricted flights to and from Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE. Screening of arriving passengers, which included checking of body temperature and nasal swabs, were also strictly implemented, leading to the identification of the majority of the confirmed cases. A special quarantine room was designated at the airport, and specialized hospitals were designated to become isolation centers for those who tested positive of the virus.
To prevent spreading of the virus to children, classes in all levels including kindergarten were suspended for two (2) weeks beginning February 26. This became particularly urgent after the identification of the first positive case involving a male citizen school bus driver who recently traveled to Iran.
Bahrain has also canceled the holding of some of its annual exhibitions, including the 16th edition of the Bahrain International Garden Show, which was supposed to be held from March 3 to 7, 2020. The Ministry of Interior has also issued advisories discouraging the holding of public gatherings, prompting some religious institutions to suspend the holding of services or masses.
The Kingdom continues to encourage its citizens and residents, particularly those who have recently traveled to Iran, to subject themselves to testing and has deployed mobile medical teams to go to homes of those who have scheduled their medical examinations through their dedicated hotline 444 and their newly activated online appointment system for COVID-19 testing.
Ambassador Ver thanked the Ministry for Bahrain’s comprehensive response and transparency of information on the COVID-19 situation, providing relief to the 53,000-strong Filipino community in Bahrain. Ambassador Ver reiterated his request that Bahrain also intensify its efforts in informing employers and sponsors of OFWs.
