AN increase in the number of positive cases of the Coronavirus Disease among expatriate workers is not a reason to panic, but proof of effective planning, according to a top expert, writes the GDN's Raji Unnikrishnan.

Random testing of samples which revealed at least 17 people infected with the virus was part of the national plan to combat Covid-19, explained National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 Monitoring Committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani.

He added medical teams were following three steps to ensure effectiveness – which included precautions maintaining efforts, following international medical standards and guidelines and implementing a mechanism to trace infected people and their contacts.

He was speaking at a Press conference last night at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research at the BDF Hospital.

Also present were Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh, Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani and Covid-19 Taskforce member Dr Jameela Al Salman.

“Seven weeks now and we have seen positive results being recognised by the world,” said Dr Al Qahtani.

“We still have the medical team intact, necessary equipment to combat the virus and the capacity to treat the infected and those in quarantine.

“We are still continuing the tests and are on the top level internationally.

“All the more, we still have our normal life continuing.

“All these show that decisions taken were for the best interests and benefit of the community.”

While warning of increased cases in the coming days, the infectious disease chief at the BDF Hospital explained that this was normal, as with an epidemic.

He also assured that the team was “prepared” to deal with it.

“There will be an increase in the numbers, but this is because we are following the TTT – track, test and treat – methodology.

“The identification of active cases among the expats were the result of our plans to track and isolate infected people.

“We aimed at identifying cases in the most populated neighbourhood.

“The numbers (among expats) are nothing to worry about, as we have specialised team working 24 hours to put plans in accordance with the global updates.

“The challenge for us is to track the contacts and thanks to the joint efforts of the Health and Interior ministries, we are following the procedures of meeting, reporting, identification and testing protocols.”

He said random testing was done according to a plan and calculation and hence the increased numbers were not a surprise, but a challenge.

The increase (in expat cases) is not a reason to worry because we have plans to cover all areas that have been identified, to be covered under the random testing.

“Whenever you have a huge population the spread is possible and that’s why we need to trace and search and that is what we did in Bahrain.

“We have identified certain areas based on certain calculations and we take the samples from those places.

“I look at this challenge positively – it shows the awareness in the community which is great.

“It is clear that the virus has no religion, no citizenship and it can move into all countries – so we should not link the virus to a certain community.”

Among the total number of active cases, close to 50 per cent are foreign employees of a cleaning company and labourers.