Bahraini.TV

Flu Battle Stepped Up

by mahmood on 07/09/09 at 9:13 am · email  · print  

Bahrain stepped up its swine flu defences yesterday, with schools reopening only to close again and a ban on pupils returning to classes within a week of travelling from abroad.

The government also approved a BD5.5 million cash injection to buy vaccines for the H1N1 virus.

It was approved by the Cabinet, chaired by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, as thousands of pupils went back to school – only for many to be told to go home again for another week.

The Education Ministry “strongly advised” private schools to postpone reopening for a further week, as a buffer against any swine flu outbreak.

It also ordered that no individual student or member of school staff be allowed to enter any school until he or she has been in the country for at least seven days, said a ministry source.

It is understood this rule will also apply to anyone who travels over the coming Eid Al Fitr holiday, but the source could not say how long this directive would be in place.

Education Ministry Under-Secretary for Resources and Services Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulaziz Al Khalifa met private school principals yesterday and schools were advised to put back the start of term, but not ordered to do so, said the source.

“At the meeting today it was strongly recommended to private schools that they postpone the start of term by one week,” he said.

“However, no school was forced to take this step and at the moment it is unclear exactly which schools are planning to take this action.”