Bahrain has crossed the one-million mark of those who have taken at least one dose of a coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine.

Until 9pm last night, a total of 1,002,977 people had taken at least one shot of a vaccine, with 823,489 taking both the jabs.

“Bahrain crosses the one-million mark of the first dose of the anti-coronavirus vaccination, with more than 80 per cent of the eligible population receiving a shot,” tweeted the Health Ministry earlier in the day.

The GDN reported on Saturday that the eligible population, which now includes those aged above 12, has been assessed at 1.14 million, based on inputs from the Bahrain Embassy in the UK.

On May 31, the mission had said in an update that 928,893 people, or 81pc, had taken the first dose of a vaccine.

Meanwhile, the ministry said in a statement that it had transferred existing Covid-19 cases at a ward in Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) on Saturday night to other wards and facilities.

“As a precautionary measure a number of active existing Covid-19 patients were safely and proactively moved from their wards in SMC to other locations in the hospital or to other treatment facilities, to conduct regular maintenance of the medical equipment,” it said.

“This aims to deliver best services to citizens and residents.”

The GDN earlier reported that a number of wards at SMC and its administrative unit and helipad have been converted to Covid-19 treatment units.

A Covid-19 treatment clinic was set up last week at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC), which the ministry subsequently said would serve “minor to moderate” cases of the infection.

“In line with directives from the Government Executive Committee, the BIECC halls will serve as treatment centres for minor to moderate Covid-19 cases that qualify for at-home self-isolation, in accordance with updated protocols,” it said.

Supreme Council for Health (SCH) chairman and head of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (Covid-19) Lieutenant General Doctor Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa yesterday visited the centre and was briefed on the facilities available there.

The centre is equipped with necessary medical equipment for the treatment and follow-up of positive cases with mild to moderate symptoms. It includes clinics run by qualified medical teams, special beds for short stay cases, an outpatient section, a short stay unit and rooms to provide emergency nursing services supervised by the taskforce.

It includes eight stations for initial triage, eight for registration and six for nursing, 16 medical clinics, seven treatment rooms, seven follow-up rooms and follow-up appointment stations, medical imaging equipment and stations for registration of short stay cases that require to be placed under observation. Eighty beds have been allocated for follow-up and observation.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh yesterday visited the recently-launched monitoring and follow-up unit at the ministry’s headquarters in Sanabis.

The focus is on monitoring and tracing existing Covid-19 cases and tracing contacts of active cases.

The minister lauded the team for its contribution to support public health and to confront the virus, especially in the field of communication, follow-up and co-ordination.

“The unit plays a major role in supporting national plans that are implemented in order to address and confront the coronavirus pandemic,” she said in a statement.

“We appreciate the positive results that have been achieved in this regard which is a great support to the efforts of the national medical team, which in turn contributes to maintaining public and safety.”

During the visit, Public Health director Dr Najat Abul-Fath reviewed the tasks assigned to the teams, highlighting its crucial role in the surveillance and tracking of the disease.

“Epidemiological monitoring is a continuous and regular process of collecting information from those concerned with the aim of identifying needs and priorities in order to take the necessary measures in a timely manner,” she explained.”

The teams at the unit work in two shifts in a day, starting from 9am to 9pm.

“In this span, people on the specified lists are contacted for general information which helps the surveillance and investigation team in early detection and containment of the virus before its spread,” she added.

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