Covid-19 cases surge in Bahrain as kingdom sees record deaths

Bahrain has hit a record high number in Covid-19 cases as the country’s health ministry recorded 23 deaths on Monday, as the virus continues to spread in the kingdom.

Bahrain, which has a population of 1.7 million, recorded 3,177 new cases and a further 11 deaths on Sunday.

Bahraini authorities said they would expand the scope of the vaccination campaign to include citizens between 12 and 17-years-old. The health ministry said in a Twitter post on Tuesday that it has increased its daily vaccination capacities to 31,000, with 31 vaccination centres operating across the country.

#vaccinateandstaysafe #TeamBahrain pic.twitter.com/T9BKebcZTt

— وزارة الصحة | مملكة البحرين 🇧🇭 (@MOH_Bahrain) May 25, 2021

It has blamed the spike in infections on large gatherings during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and the Eid El-Fitr holiday, which usually last for two to three days.

Bahrain suspended entry of travellers from countries on its 'Red List', which includes India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, as of Monday.

Bahraini citizens and residency visa holders are not covered by the suspension but will have to provide a PCR test before boarding a plane and quarantine for 10 days upon arrival, according to the Bahrain News Agency.

The kingdom will also apply a precautionary 10-day quarantine to vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals from all other countries, either at their residencies or in state-designated quarantine centres.