Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The Ministry of Health Bahrain on Wednesday has recorded 841 of the COVID-19 positive cases, the highest ever number in a single day so far.
As warned by the authorities earlier about the possible spike in the number of infections due to social and religious gatherings in the past three weeks, 716 detected cases were contact cases of the total single day tally of infections.
Out of 12299 COVID-19 tests carried out on 16 September 2020, 841 new cases have been detected among 124 expatriate workers, 716 new cases are contacts of active cases, and 1 is travel related. There were 613 recoveries from the COVID-19, increasing total recoveries to 55444, the Ministry of Health confirms on its website.
The National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in its briefing highlighted that the number of active COVID-19 cases has increased over the past two weeks, surpassing 750 cases on some of the previous days, due to non-compliance of health and precautionary guidelines during the Ashura holidays.
The Taskforce underscored the importance of social responsibility to safeguard individuals, families and the community, by vigilantly adhering to all health guidelines aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus, reducing infection rates and flattening the curve. The Taskforce noted that the virus does not discriminate between race, religion, or faith and therefore unified efforts are required to ensure a commitment to following all precautionary measures aimed at preserving the health of the community.
The Taskforce stressed the importance of safeguarding the community as a national duty, as reflected in the national efforts of frontline workers who tirelessly work around the clock to support monitoring and mitigation efforts. The Taskforce noted that following all precautionary guidelines and social distancing measures are important to mitigating the spread of the virus, and have been introduced based on scientific facts, and international statistics and data on the virus.
The Taskforce added that official statistics have revealed a spike in active COVID-19 cases due to an increase in social and religious gatherings during the Ashura holidays, as a result of non-compliance to precautionary health measures that have been put in place in partnership with the Jaffaria Waqf Directorate and the heads of the Ma’atams in Bahrain.
