BBYB 2021

FLATTENING THE CURVE

The unprecedented crisis triggered by the

COVID-19 pandemic has been felt around the

world, including Brunei Darussalam. However,

in spite of the challenges, the country has

responded admirably and its people have shown

great unity to combat the spread of the virus

through a whole-of-nation approach. People on

the frontline have worked sel essly, with many

also volunteering to contribute to the effort.

The rst COVID-19 case was detected on

March 9, 2020, when a 53-year-old man tested

positive for the coronavirus. Following the

initial case, at the time of writing, the number

of new cases has reached 206, with three

COVID-19 linked deaths were reported as of

March 25, 2021. No new locally transmitted

COVID-19 cases were reported since May 6,

2020.

The robust action by the Government of

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum

Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul

Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of

Brunei Darussalam has prevented the further

spread of the deadly virus.

In a titah broadcast nationwide from Istana

Nurul Iman on December 31, 2020, His Majesty

described 2020 as a challenging year for Brunei

and the rest of the world. The spread of the

coronavirus has signi cantly impacted global

socio-economic growth.

“Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah the

Almighty, we managed to keep the virus from

spreading further, thanks to the integrated

efforts of relevant parties, together with the

involvement and cooperation of the country’s

citizens and residents, in consistently

practising the teachings of our faith as a

‘vaccine’,” the monarch said.

In tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, the

Ministry of Health (MoH) provided daily

updates through press conferences, which are

still held when there are important updates.

Other initiatives by the MoH include the Health

Advice Line at 148 for further information

and latest updates on COVID-19 cases in the

country. A Self-Assessment Tool via healthinfo.

gov.bn

was also introduced to help individuals

monitor possible COVID-19 symptoms and

assist the government’s initiative to provide

real-time information.

In addition, the government introduced a one-

stop mobile application for anything COVID-19

related called ‘BruHealth’. With this app,

users have to scan a QR Code at business

establishments, and entry to the premises is

determined by the event code of the user.

The BruHealth mobile application contains an

overview of Brunei and the global COVID-19

situation, including latest statistics and trends,

as well as a personal assessment code that

re ects the infectious risk of the user and the

type of activities the user can take part in. The

app also has a COVID-19 self-assessment tool.

A monthly special allowance of BND400 was

also allocated by His Majesty’s Government

– speci cally for doctors, nurses, paramedics,

ambulance drivers, volunteers, hospital

cleaners, security guards and all staff under

the MoH, especially those working at Raja

Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, National

Isolation Centre and quarantine centres. This

monthly allowance started in March 2020

and will be extended until the country has

eradicated COVID-19.

In maintaining the well-being of the public,

the new National Isolation Centre building

was constructed in Tutong District to treat

and monitor COVID-19 patients. An additional

National Virology Laboratory was also built in

Kampung Sumbiling, Bandar Seri Begawan,

to increase the capacity and accelerate the

testing process for COVID-19 in the country.

Brunei, like other countries, also took

necessary steps like a travel ban, social

distancing measures, restrictions on public

gatherings, and asking people to work from

home. Mosques and other places of worship

were temporarily closed and shopkeepers

asked to practise social distancing to prevent

community transmissions.

Following the restriction of travel across the

Brunei-Sarawak borders, a bridge linking

Brunei-Muara District and Temburong District

was opened to allow for the continuation of

commuting for residents.

Bruneians studying abroad were also asked to

return to the country, although some opted to stay

for their studies or sit for examinations. In addition,

all applications to recruit new foreign workers were

temporarily suspended.

The monitoring of product prices is continuously

being conducted by relevant government