These Two GCC Countries Have The Highest COVID-19 Testing Rates In The World

The UAE and Bahrain have already tested almost 50% of their population for the novel coronavirus, an important step when it comes to strategizing the fight against the virus

As governments around the world continue to grapple with how to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus two countries have taken extensive lengths to ensure their population have access to testing.

UAE and Bahrain have become the first two countries in the world with populations over one million to hit a 50% testing rate for COVID-19. This milestone means that scientists in these two GCC nations can accurately analyse the spread of the coronavirus with a greater level of infection data per capita than anywhere else worldwide.

In Bahrain, public buses have been converted into mobile testing units and individuals are being called for tests at random, while early interventions included screenings at entry points and travel restrictions to high-risk areas. In the UAE, the police have been wearing smart helmets that scan temperatures of several people within a minute.

The COVID-19 recovery rate in GCC countries is significantly higher than the global average.

With the total confirmed cases of the coronavirus standing at well over 18.7 million globally and governments around the world preparing for a second wave, the recovery rate is a crucial figure in measuring the countries’ responses in fighting the pandemic.

Lead Image Courtesy of  Unplash (Benjamin Suter)