Reuters reported that political prisoners in Bahrain fear infection with the Corona virus, in light of overcrowded prisons.
The agency quoted a political prisoner - Habib Siwar - as saying that a state of panic caused the other prisoners when he had a severe coughing attack last month, and he was not presented to a doctor at the time.
Soar said by phone that 14 prisoners shared a cell with no more than eight people in one of three wings for those accused of security-related cases in the "Joe" prison in Manama.
The bracelet is one of hundreds of political opponents, activists, journalists and human rights defenders who were convicted in mass trials. He was imprisoned last year after he was in hiding for six years, and he is serving a 40-year prison sentence.
Another prisoner - Ali Hussein al-Hajj - told Reuters by phone that prison authorities prevented family visits as a preventive measure, but indicated that the prisoners, most of the prison guards, and other personnel did not wear any protective measures.
Human rights defenders - including Amnesty International - called on the Bahraini authorities to release "those who exercised their right to freedom of expression peacefully", especially elderly prisoners or those with health problems.
The Bahraini government said it was "fully committed" to protecting prisoners, and made it clear in a statement sent to Reuters that it was examining prison inmates regularly.