PH Ambassador to Bahrain Attends Diplomatic Briefing on COVID-19
Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Alfonso A. Ver (first row, fifth from right), and Ambassadors of the different diplomatic missions accredited to the Kingdom of Bahrain attend the diplomatic briefing on the COVID-19 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters. (Photo courtesy of Bahrain MOFA)
MANAMA 06 March 2020 — Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Alfonso A. Ver attended the diplomatic briefing on COVID-19 organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain on 04 March 2020.
Kingdom of Bahrain Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa briefed the Ambassadors of the different diplomatic missions accredited to the Kingdom on the various efforts that have been undertaken by Bahrain to combat and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
These efforts included the imposition of travel bans and restrictions to passengers coming from countries such as China, Iran, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand. For a time, flights to and from Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates were also restricted by Bahrain’s Civil Aeronautics Authority. Screening of arriving passengers, which included checking of body temperature and nasal swabs, were strictly implemented, leading to the identification of 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 weeks beginning 26 February 2020. 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 03 to 07 March 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.
Based on statistics published by the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Bahrain, a total of 4,504 individuals have been subjected to testing, with 4,452 negative results and 52 positive cases as of 12 noon of 04 March 2020. Bahrain 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 as he briefed the Ministry of the Embassy’s efforts in cascading all official information 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. END
Kingdom of Bahrain Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa (right) and Lt. Col. Manaf Al Qatani of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital Infectious Disease Consultant conducted the diplomatic briefing held on 04 March 2020 at the MOFA Headquarters. (Photo courtesy of Bahrain MOFA)
For more information, visit https://www.manamape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinBahrain.