TWITTER SPORTS @newsofbahrain OP-ED 8 ‘Afghan’ is now a globalised identity, whether the Taliban likes it or not INSTAGRAM National team await /nobmedia 8 joint-qualifiers LINKEDIN SUNDAY newsofbahrain MARCH 2020 decision 210 FILS WHATSAPP ISSUE NO. 8410 Bahrain’s men’s national 38444692 football team continue to FACEBOOK wait for a final decision /nobmedia on the proposed postpone- MAIL ment of their remaining [email protected] qualifying matches for the WEBSITE FIFA World Cup 2022 and newsofbahrain.com AFC Asian Cup 2023. P16 Ellie Goulding: Married life is wonderful 14 CELEBS WORLD 10 Nine killed in Mexico shootout with police AUB POS lending service to boost SMEs TDT | Manama ‘All cases hli United Bank is fur- Ather strengthening its commitment to supporting Small and Medium Enterpris- To all citizens and residents es (SME) in Bahrain through of abroad the launch of an innovative lending product based on POS For further developments on the receivables. Unveiled recently, the full range of this product is Coronavirus (COVID-19) and updates on offered specifically to business owners, proprietors, profes- origin’ the Public Awareness Campaign to Combat sionals, and companies. No local case of Coronavirus Coronavirus, please visit the This prod- uct will assist transmission registered Ministry of Health's website thousands Manama of POS mer- chants, both existing and Suvrat Saigal, t Col Dr Manaf Al Qa- www.moh.gov.bh/COVID19 new, with Deputy Group htani, Infectious Diseases cashflow/ CEO, Retail LConsultant and Microbi- working cap- Banking ologist at the BDF Hospital and ital require- Member of the National Task ments. The offering is available Force for Combating Coronavi- to merchants who have had a rus (COVID-19), noted all active successful track record in their COVID-19 cases are related to existing business for at least arrivals from abroad or contacts Lt Col Dr Manaf 3 years. A credit facility of up of arrivals from abroad. MoH issues new medical test alert call to the average of three months’ Dr Manaf added that there ID-19, noting the two individuals TDT | Manama sales turnover can be availed by have been no local cases (com- have been discharged from iso- The ministry further empha- preventive measures, according the merchant upon their suc- munity) registered within Bah- lation after responding positive- he Ministry of Health sised that citizens and residents to the international standards cessful application. See Page 5 rain, and that all active cases ly to the medical care provided. yesterday urged citizens who have visited Italy, South Ko- recommended by the World that have been registered with- On this note, Dr Manaf em- Tand residents who have rea, Egypt and Lebanon, should Health Organisation, and to 210 fils (includes VAT) in the past 24 hours have been phasised that Bahrain’s highly visited Italy, South Korea, Egypt avoid interacting with others, to follow up the implementation identified at the Kingdom’s en- specialised medical team is in- and Lebanon during the past 14 ensure the health and safety of of all procedures to combat the try points. corporating best practice meas- days to self-isolate immediately, their families and the community. spread of the Coronavirus in Dr Manaf highlighted that ures to all its monitoring and and call 444 or visit www.moh. The ministry affirmed its the Kingdom in a manner that two Bahrainis, a male and a fe- treatment activities, from test- gov.bh/covid19 to schedule a commitment to implement all preserves the health and safety male, have recovered from COV- ing to recovery. medical examination. precautionary measures and of all. SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 02 Saudi Arabia limits entry by land from Bahrain amid Corona threat Only commercial trucks coming from the three Gulf neighbours are being allowed South Korea had to self-isolate Precautionary for two weeks from the date of • their return. measures are also to be The ministry had earlier said undertaken by Ministry five cases of coronavirus in the of Health workers at 7 Kingdom have been confirmed. the three airports. COVID-19 infections have One of the patients was a man been recorded in Saudi who travelled from Iran via Arabia until now. Kuwait, who passed the illness The ministry had to his wife. earlier• said five cases Another citizen who came of coronavirus in from Iran via Bahrain has also the Kingdom have been infected. He traveled in risk of the spread of COVID-19 is the same vehicle as the first been confirmed. high “must submit a laboratory and second cases of corona- test certificate proving that he virus that were announced in Riyadh or she is free of infection with the Kingdom on Monday and the new coronavirus”. Wednesday respectively. audi Arabia is temporari- “This applies to those who Saudi Arabia on Thursday ly stopping entry into the resided in those countries dur- chided Iran for helping spread SKingdom by land from the ing the (14) days prior to enter- the outbreak around the world United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, ing the Kingdom,” the report by allowing Saudi citizens into and Bahrain, as a precaution said. the country without stamping against the spread of the COV- “The air carrier must ensure their passports during the on- ID-19) coronavirus, the Saudi that the laboratory certificate going COVID-19 outbreak. Press Agency reported early is safe, and that it is recent and As a precautionary measure, yesterday. issued within the twenty-four the Kingdom has suspended The King Fahd Causeway is the only land link the Kingdom has with outside world. Only commercial trucks hours prior to the passenger the annual Umrah pilgrimage coming from the three Gulf Arrivals from the three coun- in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz In- also to be undertaken by Min- boarding,” the report said. and efforts are being under - neighbours would be allowed, tries would be limited to three ternational Airport in Jeddah, istry of Health workers at the Saudi Arabia’s health minis- taken to disinfect the Grand but they have to undergo health airports starting 11:55 pm Sat- and King Fahd International three airports. try also announced on Saturday Mosque in Makkah and the inspection, the report said, urday, March 7, 2020, SPA said. Airport in Dammam, the report The report also said anyone that people returning back into Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, quoting an official source from These airports are King added. who wishes to enter Saudi Ara- the Kingdom having visit - as well as all mosques in the the Ministry of Interior. Khalid International Airport Precautionary measures are bia from any country where the ed Egypt, Lebanon, Italy and Kingdom. EWA call centre received 331,371 calls in past six months Manama zens and residents, a statement tion. A team was designated to by EWA said. received power meter readings etting a new benchmark in The minister toured different from subscribers via WhatsApp customer care, the Elec- sections sections of the commu- application. Stricity and Water Author- nication section and commend- The service of receiving ity call centre received 331,371 ed the dedication of the staff meter readings through the calls in the past six months. working in the departments. “WhatsApp” application, This was revealed as Electric- He lauded the recent devel- which started since last June ity and Water Affairs Minister opment steps undertaken at and the Electricity and Water Wael Al Mubarak and Electric- the facility, stressing particu- Authority has allocated an in- ity and Water Authority (EWA) larly commending development tegrated team to receive the Chief Executive Officer Shaikh steps, which includes the res- meter readings for subscribers Nawaf bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa toration of electricity in case of through it. paid an inspection visit to the power outage through the call The call centre has received a EWA call centre and took stock centre. total 41,810 power metre read- of the work procedures in this The EWA Chief highlight- ings through the WhatsApp vital sector. ed a new service which was application over the past six This high number of calls re- launched last June to received months which facilitated pro- flected the ability of the facility distance power metre readings cedures and slashed the costs to deal with the queries of citi- through the WhatsApp applica- of estimated readings. Mr Al Mubarak with Shaikh Nawaf during their visit to an EWA call centre. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa has asserted that the Capital Municipality’s winning of the Government Service Centres Award-silver category is the result of the distinguished efforts made by the relevant officials to comply with remarks and criteria of the evaluation committee. This came during a celebration held by the Capital Municipality on the occasion of winning the eGovernment silver award for applying criteria set by the evaluation committee of government service centres. The committee was set up in line with a decision by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, to boost public services. SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 03 Comprehensive Disability Complex in A’ali ‘90pc completed’ Manama abour and Social Devel- opment Minister, Jameel LHumaidan, yesterday paid an inspection visit to the Com- 1,500 prehensive Disability Complex persons and 160 administrative staff will be in A’ali, along with a number of accommodated in the new officials. building. The minister was informed about the progress of the project, where the construction process is more than ‘90 per cent com- pleted’. of buses specially equipped for The project, which is expected the disabled, extending thanks to be inaugurated later this year, and appreciation to sisterly Ku- covers a total area of 20,105 sq.m wait and the Kuwaiti Fund for and is built on an area of 17,642 Arab Economic Development for sq.m.