Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre will become a testing centre for COVID-19, said Infectious Diseases Consultant & Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and Member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani.

 

The centre will be divided into a reception and classification area, three halls, a pharmacy and rapid treatment area, A Bahrain News Agency report said yesterday (March 22). 

 

The first hall will be for testing purposes for contacts of active COVID-19 cases who are asymptomatic, and 400 seats will be available in the waiting area. The second hall will be a testing hall for contacts of active COVID-19 cases who are experiencing symptoms and will provide more than 400 seats in the waiting area, 250 beds, as well as resting areas. The third hall will be allocated for testing individuals arriving at Bahrain International Airport, and provides more than 400 seats, 250 beds, as well as a dining area. 

 

Tests are conducted by a specialised medical team and examination mechanisms are classified as individuals arriving from abroad, individuals in contact with active COVID-19 cases who have arrived from abroad, and positive cases with an unknown source.

 

Dr Al Qahtani highlighted the kingdom’s continued cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), adding that the kingdom has become the first Arab country to participate in the WHO’s solidarity trial, aimed at jumpstarting research for the establishment of a treatment designed to eradicate COVID-19.

 

Dr Al Qahtani highlighted that the WHO has once again praised the kingdom for the additional efforts and guidelines introduced to contain the spread of COVID-19, including its social distancing measures and contact tracing efforts. 

 

Dr Al Qahtani added that there are 183 active COVID-19 cases, and that all are stable except for three cases that are critical. Dr Al Qahtani highlighted that 149 cases have been treated and discharged, and 250 individuals have left quarantines.

 

He noted that since the official announcement of cases linked to contacts of active COVID-19 on March 19, the ministry has tested 1,922 individuals, over a period of four days, and only 31 cases returned positive. 

 

Dr Al Qahtani reiterated the importance of all citizens and residents who have interacted with active COVID-19 cases to call 444, self-isolate and follow the health guidelines provided to them by a specialised medical team. Dr Al Qahtani added that citizens and residents above the age of 70, as well as pregnant women, and immune comprised individuals are advised to practice social distancing as much as possible.