Two more branches of the Northern Municipality have been shut down after some employees in customer services tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), it has emerged.
The offices in A’ali and Hamad Town were closed until close contacts of the affected staff are traced.
The municipality’s Budaiya branch was closed on July 7 after an employee there tested positive for Covid-19 during scheduled checks.
Sources told the GDN at the time that the branch would remain closed until sanitisation and disinfection work were complete.
The case came to light as the Health Ministry conducted a scheduled visit and tests taken showed an employee in the building permits section infected with Covid-19.
The municipality had said it would continue providing services online, through mobile units and at its two other branches in A’ali and Hamad Town.
Area councillor Mohammed Al Dosssary had then urged officials not to reopen until all those who came in close contact with the desk employee were cleared.
“The employee’s colleagues or superiors or even those who have came in contact over the past days when visiting the municipality’s branch need to be cleared from the virus over the next 10 days before any reopening occurs.
“It is our responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved in municipal services.”
He told the GDN yesterday that following the Budaiya incident officials had been told to provide services online, via WhatsApp or through mobile units.
“But that didn’t happen and this is the outcome,” he said.
“The tracing will take a long time considering that the affected employees are in customer services, meaning they have been in close contact with several people, not just colleagues.”
Yesterday’s closures were also announced on the Northern Municipality’s social media accounts.
Meanwhile, the Muharraq Municipality building has been sanitised after it was closed earlier this month after five employees tested positive for Covid-19.
A cleansing campaign was carried out at the Busaiteen building in a joint endeavour by the Tastahil Bahrain Volunteers Team and Bahrain Society for Religious Co-existence and Tolerance (Ta’ayush) to coincide with World Population Day on Saturday.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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