People in Bahrain urged ‘not to be reckless’

Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Walid Al Manea urged people in Bahrain ‘not to be reckless’ in the continued battle against Covid-19 during a press conference held this afternoon.

He appealed for everyone to ‘be responsible’ adding: “Unfortunately we have witnessed a leap in the number of active cases. Contact tracing has showed that family gatherings and negligence has led to this rise.”

He urged people to stay away from gatherings for the next two weeks to help stem the spread of the virus which has already claimed 202 lives.

As reported by GDNonline the majority of new patients were contacts of local cases – 602 of the 702 reported yesterday.

Also present at the online press conference of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) are the taskforce's monitoring committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani, Taskforce member and Salmaniya Medical Complex Infectious and Internal Diseases consultant, Dr Jameela Al Salman.

Dr Al Qahtani added: “This is not the time to be reckless but to collaborate for the safety of our families, society and country.”

The call was supported by Dr Al Salman, who urged: “Take an individual and social responsibility so that we can decrease the numbers.

“This increase will slow down our efforts to tackle the pandemic. Gatherings, regardless of venues or objectives, are the main cause for the increase in numbers.”

The number of patient recoveries in the past week had fallen due to the increased spread of the virus, she added, although the task force was hopeful that if the warnings are heeded this will be addressed soon.

A renewed appeal was also made for volunteers to step forward to take part in phase III clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine at the clinical facility at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the theme 'Volunteering for Humanity'.

Dr Manaf said: “ I hope that those who may have been hesitant to take part at the start will visit the centre and see for themselves – our objective is to reach 6,000 volunteers and we call upon all to come forward.”

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/861767/People-in-Bahrain-urged-%E2%80%98not-to-be-reckless%E2%80%99