The Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health has announced it has suspended a dentist working at a private dental clinic in Seef area and referred him to the Public Prosecution.

The Ministry noted that the individual in question did not follow the specific guidelines given, which included mandatory self-isolation for 14 days, after arriving into Bahrain from a COVID-19 affected country.

The Ministry has taken the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the community by closing the private dental clinic, and testing all individuals who had been in contact with the dentist.

The Ministry underlined that the individual had violated the Health Law no (34) of 2018.

The Ministry outlined that based on Resolution No. (20) for the year 2020, determining communicable diseases and law no. 13 on prevention, isolation, and treatment and in accordance to law no. 121 and its related decisions, a prison term of not less than 3 months and a fine of not less than BD 1,000, shall be imposed on every person who intentionally conceals a person with a contagious disease or exposes others to diseases, or who intentionally causes the transmission of diseases to others, or refrains from carrying out any measure to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Ministry noted the case has also been referred to the Disciplinary Committee for violating the ethics of practicing the profession at the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).

The Ministry urges all citizens and residents to abide by the health guidelines provided to ensure the containment of the COVID-19, which include 14 day self-isolation for those returning from COVID-19 affected countries.

The Ministry underscored it will take necessary action against those who violate the Kingdom’s health and safety laws.