The Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in Bahrain after a Bahraini citizen arriving from Iran was suspected of having contracted the virus, based on emerging symptoms.
The patient was transferred to the Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Medical Centre for immediate testing, treatment and isolation under the supervision of a specialised medical team. The ministry undertook further necessary medical measures to monitor all individuals who had been in contact with the patient and referred them to isolation accordingly.
The coronavirus originated in Wuhan Province, China and has since spread to various countries in Asia, the Middle East and other regions with over 79,000 people now infected across the world. Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
The Ministry of Health has since released instructions for citizens and residents of Bahrain who are experiencing symptoms, have travelled to one of the countries infected with the disease or interacted with a person who has recently travelled to one of the affected locations. These were circulated as part of the Public Awareness Campaign to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Those experiencing symptoms were advised to :
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Quarantine themselves at home, in a separate room
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Call 444.
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Follow the instructions given by the medical team.
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Avoid close contact with others.
The ministry added that it is taking further preventive measures to ensure the virus is contained, including monitoring the health of individuals arriving from infected countries for a period of 14 days, in line with international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
