Bahrain's overseas students get coronavirus care packages

Local embassies in the US and UK have sent essential food items as well as face masks, sanitisers and paracetamol to students abroad

Volunteers wearing protective face masks and gloves hand out Iftar meals provided by the authorities in Bahrain following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease during Ramadan, in Manama, Bahrain. ReutersShow less

Bahraini students studying in the UK and the US have received a coronavirus “care package” from their embassy that includes food, medical supplies and the latest advice from the government on staying safe.

Organised through the local embassies, the hundreds of care packages include long-life essential food items such as pasta, tins, tea bags and oil and also have masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and paracetamol.

The boxes also contain a letter with advice on "additional precautionary measures during this temporary period, for the safety and protection of everyone", the Bahrain Economic Development Board said on Wednesday.

“The parcels offer supplies at a time when many supermarkets and pharmacies around the world are experiencing stock shortages,” the agency said.

Bahrain’s embassy in Washington has coordinated with 136 universities in North America to assist students and fielded thousands of calls on a dedicated hotline, BEDB said. So far, the embassy has also purchased 71 flights home for Bahraini nationals unable to get back themselves.

Medical staff are seen in the newly-inaugurated intensive care unit for Covid-19 patients at the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital in Riffa in April, 2020. AFP

A man wearing protective gloves checks the app "Be Aware", launched by Bahrain's health authorities to contain the coronavirus disease by spreading awareness and sharing updates on the situation. Reuters

A Bahraini man wears a protective face mask following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, as he shops at a vegetables market. Reuters

A grocery store displays protective masks for sale amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the old marketplace of the Bahraini capital Manama. AFP

A Bahraini police officer instructs a foreign shop vendor to wear his protective mask amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the old market place of the Bahraini capital Manama. AFP

A Bahraini police officer instructs foreign workers on proper self-protection measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the old marketplace of the capital Manama. AFP

A Bahraini police officer instructs foreign workers to wear protective gear amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in the old marketplace of the capital Manama. AFP

Expatriated workers carrying out road project development sanitise their hands as they shift between work sites in Aali village. AFP

Expatriated workers have their temperatures checked while carrying out road project development in Aali village south of the Bahraini capital. AFP

Fully equipped beds are seen in a makeshift ICU dubbed the Field Intensive Care Unit 1 set up by Bahraini authorities to treat the coronavirus disease at a car-park of Bahrain Defence Force Hospital in Riffa. Reuters

Medical staff are seen in the newly-inaugurated intensive care unit for Covid-19 patients at the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital in Riffa. AFP

Doctors and nurses are seen doing their final check on the equipment in a makeshift ICU dubbed the Field Intensive Care Unit 1 set up by Bahraini authorities to treat the coronavirus disease. Reuters

Bahrain has received praise from experts for its handling of the pandemic so far with strict measures to stop the spread, a comprehensive tracing programme to map infections and widespread testing in the community. It was also the first Arab country to join a World Health Organization initiative to pool resources to help produce a treatment or vaccine.

The kingdom converted public buses into mobile testing units and established a number of field hospitals to treat cases.

Bahrain currently has 5,531 confirmed cases but only 9 deaths. While the small island kingdom has now begun to ease some restrictions with malls and shops slowly reopening, there have been some setbacks.

This week, 16 members of a family tested positive after sharing an Iftar meal and is still registering several hundred new infections a day.