New measures have been issued for the Eid Al Fitr holiday, with people being urged to limit family gatherings amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the GDN's Raji Unnikrishnan reports.
The measures were issued following a meeting of the Government Executive Committee, held remotely.
It was chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
The Crown Prince highlighted that, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad, Bahrain continues to mitigate the spread of the virus.
He extended his gratitude to Team Bahrain’s frontline workers and professionals, who have persistently and selflessly devoted their efforts to safeguarding the health of all.
The Crown Prince emphasised the kingdom’s efficient management of the challenges presented by the global spread of Covid-19 and added that health guidelines, measures and public awareness campaigns are critical to the success of mitigation efforts.
The new measures were issued following a report by the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, headed by Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who is Supreme Council for Health chairman.
The measures contain several key points to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including limiting gatherings to the immediate family in a household, maintaining social distancing and avoiding visiting relatives and friends during the upcoming Eid holiday.
“Limit the Eid gatherings to the direct family that lives in the same house,” it said in a graphic posted on its social media accounts.
“Adhere to measures of social distancing and avoid visiting people to ensure everyone’s safety.
“Send good wishes and blessings through social media applications instead of in person.
“Distribute the Eid money through online banking and applications instead of in person.”
Additionally, the following decisions were made:
Commercial and industrial businesses can resume usual operations, provided that the following conditions are met:
- All employees and customers are required to wear face masks inside the premises.
- In order to reduce the number of individuals using facilities at any one time, businesses must limit overcrowding and ensure social distancing guidelines are followed.
- Stores and facilities are to be regularly and thoroughly disinfected, in accordance with guidelines established by the Health Ministry.
- Businesses must place appropriately spaced floor markings for queueing at the entrance of the stores, to maintain social distancing guidelines issued by the ministry.
- All non-essential medical services are to resume operations, whilst ensuring health and social distancing guidelines are thoroughly followed.
- Professional sports players will be allowed to resume their sport exercises in outdoor spaces and swimming pools, as long as health and social distancing guidelines are followed.
- Outdoor cinemas are allowed to operate, so long as health and social distancing guidelines are followed. Indoor cinemas will remain closed.
- As of Wednesday, all salons and hair barbers are to re-open, whilst ensuring health and social distancing guidelines are followed.
