Flights to and from Iraq and Lebanon have been stopped until further notice, Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) in Bahrain announced on Thursday, a day after Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, stressed that COVID-19 does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion or social class.
He affirmed that the health authorities in Bahrain are prepared to face potential challenges.
The Bahraini prince visited the National Taskforce for Combating the coronavirus Operation Room where he was briefed on the preventative measures taken as part of the national campaign against COVID-19.
He expressed his appreciation and support for the joint efforts to combat the spread of the virus, and for ensuring the safety of citizens and residents.
Asharq Al-Awsat toured Manama’s streets that seemed unusually less crowded on Wednesday evening. People are cautious after the Bahraini Ministry of Health announced Wednesday 26 coronavirus cases in the past three days.
Fatima Mohammad, a young woman, expressed concern yet she said she was confident in the procedures taken by the Bahraini government.
Rida Abdulhussein, an employee at a private company, said the fear is real and that things became more serious when classes were suspended.
The situation in shopping malls doesn’t seem any better.
Haitham Farsan, an employee at a perfumes’ company, says he warns shoppers not to touch the bottles. He constantly disinfects perfume bottles, but still fears from getting infected.
Even as the number of fresh coronavirus cases declines at the epicenter of the disease in China, there has been a sudden increase in parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Iran has emerged as a major hotspot in the region.
