A FIELD intensive care unit with 130 beds has been set up to support treatment for Covid-19 at the BDF Hospital, reports the GDN's Raji Unnikrishnan.

An additional 500 beds dedicated to critical care have also been distributed in various areas across the country to provide the necessary treatment whenever the need arises.

This was revealed by Supreme Council for Health chairman Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa during an inspection visit to the unit at the BDF Hospital yesterday.

He was accompanied by Royal Medical Services Commander Major General Professor Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa and members of the Covid-19 Task Force.

Dr Shaikh Mohammed said that the facility was part of precautionary measures taken to enhance Bahrain’s efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

“The precautionary plans and the preventive and control strategies are being implemented in a speedy manner, among which is the work to allocate this field hospital,” he said.

“It comes in the context of seeking to harness all the energies and capabilities aimed at continuing to address the virus and ensure safety and the health of all citizens and residents.

“We are happy with this achievement that documents Bahrain’s efforts and contributions to counter the spread of the virus, which is classified today as a pandemic that requires no slowdown in its fight.”

He added that the field unit was built in a record period of seven days and will be managed by specialised health personnel and includes all requirements.

“It has 130 beds to treat cases infected with the virus and the unit was constructed and equipped with the best equipment and according to the highest levels, which enhances Bahrain’s pioneering role in setting the medical services system and makes it a model,” he explained.

“Moreover, there are also 500 beds dedicated to critical care distributed across Bahrain which will provide the necessary treatment whenever the need arises and based on developments.”

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Shaikh Khalid said that 100 intensive care beds were being readied for the existing facility in Sitra. This will be an addition to the current capacity and only dedicated to intensive care.

The unit comes within an integrated series of precautionary quarantine and isolation and treatment centres designated to receive infected, mixed with and suspected cases of the virus, subjected to the completion of medical examination procedures, according to the results of laboratory tests and World Health Organisation guidelines.