Test positivity rate falls to 1.9 per cent

BAHRAIN yesterday registered a record test positivity rate of 1.90 per cent – the lowest since February, indicating the tremendous progress made in tackling Covid-19.

Bahrain’s average test positivity rate was 5pc in February and 4.5 in March, which went up to 6.3pc in April. The daily average shot up to a staggering 11.4pc last month.

Average

The first week of June also maintained an almost similar average (11.8) but the 13 days (June 9 to 21) that followed witnessed a downward slide with the rates dropping to 6.6pc.

It further declined in the last six days (Jun 22 to 27) with the average plunging to 2.48pc. All five days recorded a rate below 3pc except for Wednesday when it stood at 3.15pc. The lowest was yesterday – 1.90pc.

Test positivity rate – or Covid-19 per cent-positive rate – is the percentage of positive cases from daily tests conducted in a country/state. It indicates the possibility of a person contracting the infection from his/her community.

According to John Hopkins Centre for Health Security senior scholar Dr Amesh Adalja, when the test positive rate is low in an area, the chance of a person running into someone with the virus in a public place is much lesser.

The rates gain prominence as a partial closure of retail trade outlets and services involving customers is effective in the country since May 27, following a spike in coronavirus infections. It is set to continue until this weekend.

Researchers say that per cent-positive rate should be one factor in deciding if people should venture out.

Meanwhile, Bahrain has completed more than five million reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR) on its population.

“Bahrain is one of the highest ranking countries globally in testing per 1,000 people,” said the Health Ministry.

Until last night Bahrain has conducted 5,015,001 such tests – the only officially approved procedure in the country, which uses a person’s nasal swab to detect viral particles.

Bahrain’s testing strategy has been praised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other bodies.

Alongside, the Health Ministry has revised timings for Covid-19 testing facilities – from 8am to 12 noon and 4pm until 12 midnight from July 1, in accordance with the midday work ban.

“In accordance with the ministerial law prohibiting outdoor afternoon work during summer months, drive-through Covid-19 testing operating hours have been revised effective from July 1 to August 31,” it said.

The 2013 regulation of the Labour and Social Development Ministry bans work under the sun in open places from noon until 4pm.

Bahrain has also been making tremendous progress in combating the virus with the month of June faring well in all parameters.

Daily cases dropped to as low as 230 yesterday – after averaging 1,000 a day since April. The average shot up to 2,000 cases a day in May – with the all-time highest of 3,274 on May 29.

Deaths

Fatalities have also dropped with less than 10 deaths recorded during the last five days. Only one fatality was registered on Friday.

Number of people under treatment also dropped during the last five days touching the lowest of 33 yesterday. Ninety-nine people were under critical care on the same day.

 

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/949571/Test-positivity-rate-falls-to-19-per-cent

 

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