Bahrain has converted a multi-storey car park into a temporary 130-bed intensive care unit (ICU) for patients with COVID-19. The car park is part of the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital in Riffa, south of the capital of Manama.

According to a report by Reuters, Bahraini authorities plan to raise capacity to 500 beds once other field units are set up across the country. Each bed at the temporary ICU is equipped with a ventilator.

The hospital is said to have been set up as a precautionary measure in case of a spike in coronavirus cases. On Tuesday April 14, the Bahrain News Agency reported 161 new coronavirus infections, taking the country’s total active cases to 870.

The Ministry of Health said the new cases were detected after conducting 3,581 new COVID-19 tests.

Bahrain is one of the few GCC countries that has not imposed a curfew or locked down areas to curb the spread of the virus and its national carrier still operates some flights. Like its neighbours, it has closed schools and most public venues, the report said.