National medical team to confront COVID-19 holds meeting

President of the Supreme Council of Health Lieutenant General Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Head of the national medical team to confront coronavirus (COVID-19), chaired today the team’s second meeting, in the presence of Health Minister Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh, Commander of the King Hamad University Hospital Major General Shaikh Salman bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, Health Ministry Undersecretary Dr. Walid Khalifa Al Mena’a, Chief Executive of the National Health Regulatory Authority Dr. Meriam Adhbi Jalahma, Health Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Dr. Mariam Al Hajeri, Dr. Abdullah Darwich from the Military Hospital and representatives of Salmaniya Medical Complex, the National Committee for Disaster Management and relevant public institutions.

The national team praised the ongoing follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. They discussed the recommendations of the coordination committee, presided by HRH the Crown Prince, concerning measures taken to confront the disease. They also reviewed application of the pre-emptive procedures regarding granting visas to the expatriates who visited China 14 days before entering Bahrain. The team also reviewed and got assured about readiness of the quarantine places for suspected cases and the venues allocated to treat infected cases.

The meeting also shed light on measures taken at hospitals, Bahrain International Airport and seaports as well as the evaluation of protocols taken concerning citizens and residents coming from China.  

Lieutenant General Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa updated the team on the outcome of his visit, in the presence of the Health Minister, to Ibrahim Khalil Kanoo Community Medical Centre to get informed about its readiness to receive suspected cases and deal with them according to medical protocols put in place to prevent patients’ infection. He also stressed coordination between public and private hospitals and the need to boost health awareness among people through various mass media to assure them of the procedures taken to confront the virus and stop it from reaching Bahrain.