Brunei's Covid-19 Response: A Comprehensive Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Brunei, affecting its economy and society. In response, the Bruneian government implemented various measures to contain the virus and mitigate its economic consequences. Travel restrictions and bans on import and export activities were put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, but these measures also disrupted businesses and caused economic problems. To support businesses and individuals, the government introduced economic relief packages and subsidised wages. The health authorities focused on contact tracing, testing, and social distancing measures to contain the virus.

Travel restrictions and bans on imports/exports

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brunei implemented travel restrictions and banned imports and exports to and from the country. This was done to prevent the virus from spreading and to control the number of cases in the country.

Brunei prevented the entry of international visitors from countries with a high number of COVID-19 cases, such as Iran and Italy. Any foreign visitor who had been to Iran or Italy in the past 14 days was banned from entering Brunei, including transit passengers. This measure was put in place to protect the health and safety of Bruneians and to reduce the risk of importing new cases into the country.

The country also imposed domestic travel restrictions to limit the movement of people within Brunei. These restrictions included banning large gatherings, such as big marriages, open houses, and religious events. The government also advised the closure of mosques and other places of worship to prevent the spread of the virus.

The import and export ban had a significant impact on Brunei's economy, particularly on businesses that relied on trade and tourism. Many businesses, especially in the private sector, struggled to stay afloat due to the disruption in supply chains and the decline in tourism revenue. The ban on imports also affected businesses that depended on materials and supplies from other countries, such as factories in China, which had to shut down due to the lockdown imposed by the Chinese government.

To support businesses and mitigate the economic impact, the Bruneian government introduced an economic relief package worth approximately BND250 million. This package included measures such as the postponement of loan repayments and the exemption of fees and charges for businesses and self-employed individuals. The government also encouraged businesses to utilise online platforms and delivery services to continue their operations while adhering to the restrictions.

Overall, Brunei's travel restrictions and bans on imports and exports were implemented to prioritise the health and safety of its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they also had significant economic consequences for the country.

Economic relief packages

The Bruneian government introduced an economic relief package worth approximately BND250 million in April 2020. This package was aimed at businesses and individuals, including the self-employed, to alleviate the financial burden of the pandemic. It included postponements of principal or loan repayment and the exemption of fees and charges.

In addition, the government also rolled out a BND450 million stimulus package, amounting to about 2.7% of GDP. This included:

• Deferment of payments on the Employee Trust Fund and Supplemental Contributory Pensions contributions.
• Discounts on corporate income taxes, rents, and utilities.
• Deferment on principal payments of financing to all sectors.
• 25% payroll subsidies to affected micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with less than 100 employees.

The government also allocated BND15 million in FY2020/21 to meet the immediate needs of the health sector.

Testing and contact tracing

The MoH set up a 24-hour temporary testing facility at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Sports Complex to cater to close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Hundreds of these close contacts voluntarily came forward for testing, where health officials worked tirelessly to ensure smooth and safe operations. The flu clinic, which typically operated at RIPAS Hospital, was temporarily relocated to the sports complex to protect other patients and maintain hospital services.

COVID-19 swab tests were administered to confirmed close contacts of positive cases and individuals with travel history to countries in categories A, B, and C, exhibiting fever and respiratory difficulties. Category A included countries with continuous COVID-19 transmission, such as mainland China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Category B encompassed nations with limited virus transmission but reported large clusters, including France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Category C consisted of countries with local transmissions, such as Macau, Malaysia (excluding Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan), Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

Close contacts eligible for testing included family members of positive cases, those who shared meals or attended gatherings with infected individuals, people in confined spaces with a COVID-19 patient for over 30 minutes, and colleagues of the patient. The testing procedures typically took about 24 hours to yield results, and medical officers worked in shifts to manage the process efficiently.

To ensure sufficient manpower, non-urgent medical operations were reduced, leading to the cancellation of scheduled procedures and even circumcision services. However, hospitals and clinics remained operational, providing urgent attention to those in need. The swift and comprehensive testing and contact tracing efforts were instrumental in Brunei's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social distancing and lockdown measures

To further enforce social distancing, the government banned large gatherings, including big marriages, open houses, and Hari Raya celebrations. These measures were crucial in limiting the number of people coming into close contact, thereby reducing the chances of the virus spreading.

Brunei also imposed a lockdown, which had a significant impact on businesses and the economy. Many private sector businesses had to close down as they could not afford rent, and workers faced reduced wages or job losses. The government recognised the economic challenges and introduced a stimulus package worth approximately BND250 million. This package included measures such as the postponement of loan repayments and the exemption of fees and charges, providing much-needed relief to businesses and individuals.

The government also focused on supporting essential services, such as healthcare, by reducing non-urgent medical operations to free up resources for COVID-19 containment. This decision ensured that hospitals and clinics could continue providing urgent medical attention to those who needed it, even as they worked to control the spread of the virus.

Healthcare measures and medical supplies

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brunei implemented various healthcare measures and ensured access to medical supplies to manage the outbreak. Here is a detailed overview of these initiatives:

Healthcare Measures

Brunei established a 24-hour temporary facility at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Sports Complex to test close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The flu clinic was relocated to this sports complex to ensure the safety of other patients and maintain uninterrupted hospital services. The country categorized countries or areas based on the transmission of COVID-19, with Category A including countries like mainland China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea, which had continuous transmission. Category B included countries with limited transmission but reported large clusters, such as France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Meanwhile, Category C comprised Macau, Malaysia (excluding Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan), Taiwan, Thailand, the UK, the US, and Vietnam, where local transmissions were reported.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) activated and formed contingency plans following standard operating procedures (SOPs). With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, Brunei focused on the "containment" stage, aiming to trace and contain the virus by calling in close contacts. To ensure sufficient manpower, non-urgent medical operations were reduced, including the cancellation of scheduled operations and even circumcision services, to prioritize containing the virus's spread. Despite these measures, hospitals and clinics remained operational, providing urgent attention to those in need.

Medical Supplies

Brunei procured and administered COVID-19 treatments, such as Paxlovid, an oral antiviral medicine manufactured by Pfizer. High-risk COVID-19 patients were given priority access to Paxlovid to reduce their risk of developing severe symptoms. The treatment required a doctor's assessment and was provided for a five-day period. The public could access information through the website www.moh.gov.bn, the Health Advice line at 148, or the BruHealth app.

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