ALMOST 75 per cent of the people who tested positive for Covid-1 in Jannusan are in stable health condition, while 30 per cent have recovered, according to a local society, writes the GDN's Raji Unnikrishnan.

The Jannusan Charity Society has now launched a campaign to ensure that the village is free of the virus before Ramadan, after residents in the area were blamed for spreading Covid-19 in the country.

Forty-eight Covid-19 positive cases were reported from people who attended a condolence meeting in North Jannusan between March 9 and 11, as identified by the Health Ministry’s contact tracing method.

Several other positive cases are also indirectly linked to those who attended the ma’atam.

Sixteen children are also among the infected who contacted the cases linked to the village well.

The spread started with case 215, a 71-year-old man from Jannusan who tested positive after coming in contact with two individuals who arrived from Iran in February.

He visited Al Mosawi Eye Clinic in Bilad Al Qadeem on March 5, attended a burial in Hoora Cemetery on March 8 and attended condolences in North Jannusan ma’atam on March 9.

He was admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex with pneumonia on March 12 and tested negative for Covid-19.

However, he tested positive during a second screening on March 15.

“We assure everyone that people in Jannusan are completely aware and serious about the situation,” society chairman Hussain Al Sabbagh told the GDN.

“In the initial days, people were unaware that they were carriers which led to the spread; they did not do it recklessly – why would we put our own families at risk?

“So it is unfair to blame us for spreading Covid-19 in Bahrain.

“Now, everybody in the village has gone for a check-up and there are no more positive cases from Jannusan.

“Everyone is staying at home and we are following all regulations issued by the ministry.

“We are also happy to say that almost 75 per cent of the positive cases from Jannusan are recovering, while 30 per cent left the isolation after two weeks.”

The campaign, titled ‘Zero Corona in Ramadan’, is spearheaded by the youth in the village.

“We are following the efforts of Team Bahrain and the youth in the village are helping people who are on home quarantine,” said Mr Al Sabbagh.

“We are cleaning and sterilising our roads and are distributing garbage bags to all homes.

“We are also cleaning the door knobs and other public areas on a daily basis.

“Youths are going around the village in a minivan and are helping get essentials for families, encouraging them to stay at home.”

One of the four Covid-19 deaths in Bahrain is also from among those who attended the ma’atam (case number 244).

The 78-year-old man was tested positive after he attended the ma’atam and contacting an asymptomatic person (case 196).

He died on March 27 and was the first to die after contracting the virus through contact with an infected person.

The others – two women and a man contracted the virus from Iran. All three Bahrainis had underlying health conditions.

Meanwhile, sources told the GDN that the 71-year-old man (case 215) was among the three critical cases.

“He is in the intensive care unit, the only case from Jannusan in critical care,” said the source.

“He has other chronic health issues and is aged.

“He is originally from Segaiya, but was living in Jannusan and that’s how he attended the ma’atam.

“But there were many others who attended the ma’atam from other villages including Karranah, Bani Jamrah and Barbar.”