THIRTY-TWO members of a Bahraini family have been infected with Covid-19 because they ignored precautionary guidelines by gathering for iftar meals, GDN's Raji Unnikroshnan reports.

The Health Ministry yesterday said that initially only 16 members of the family were found to have contracted the coronavirus from a common contact, but upon contact tracing it was uncovered that another 16 were also infected.

On May 9 the ministry revealed that a 40-year-old Bahraini man (case 2930) attended iftar at his brother’s house, where he passed on the virus to 15 others.

In its update yesterday, the ministry said the family hosted a large group of 30 people for iftar without wearing masks and not adhering to social distancing measures, which led to the spread.

“The family had been congregating in a large group of 30 without wearing masks, not adhering to social distancing measures established by the ministry,” said the ministry yesterday.

“This lack of regard for established public health guidelines caused the virus to spread among those in attendance and their contacts.”

It added that contact tracing on the new cases was still ongoing.

The GDN previously reported that seven of the initial 16 infected from case 2930 were children along with an elderly Bahraini woman, 71.

This was followed by another similar case in which 33 members of a Bahraini family were infected from a common contact.

The ministry also issued measures for the Eid Al Fitr holiday, with people being urged to limit family gatherings amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

It detailed a set of guidelines to be followed during the celebrations in order to maintain public health and safety.

It stated several key points to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including limiting gatherings to the immediate family in a household, maintaining social distancing and avoiding visiting relatives and friends during the upcoming Eid holiday.

“Limit the Eid gatherings to the direct family that lives in the same house,” it said in a graphic posted on its social media accounts yesterday.

“Adhere to measures of social distancing and avoid visiting people to ensure everyone’s safety.

“Send good wishes and blessings through social media applications instead of in person.

“Distribute the Eid money through online banking and applications instead of in person.”

The ministry also stressed that observing public health measures is the responsibility of all members of society and is fundamental to curtailing the transmission of the virus.

“There is currently no cure or vaccine for Covid-19 and established medical protocols only alleviate symptoms, while the patient’s immune system fights the infection,” it added.

The ministry said that it continues to enact stringent precautionary measures as well as expanding access to Covid-19 testing to identify active cases, increase treatment effectiveness and enhance contact tracing.