Bahrain announces ‘orange alert level’ during Eid holidays to enforce restrictions

Bahrain has updated its guidelines for the reopening the economy ahead of the Eid Al Adha celebrations next week.

The country’s National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus confirmed that it will move from a ‘yellow alert level’ at present to a green alert level from Friday, July 16 until Sunday, July 18.

The green alert level will see the loosening of restrictions and permit the hosting of private gatherings at homes and external conferences for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals.

People will also be allowed in educational institutions, restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, sports halls, swimming pools, playgrounds, grooming services and standalone government centres regardless of vaccination status, during this period.

However, the country will again move in the ‘orange alert level’ during the Arafat and Eid Al Adha holidays, starting from Monday, July 19 until Thursday, July 22.

The orange alert restricts indoor gatherings to six people – for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals, and only permits attendance to educational institutions.

During the Eid holidays, vaccinated individuals, those recovered from Covid-19, and children under the age of 12 accompanied by a vaccinated adult may be permitted to enter certain indoor and outdoor facilities in specific capacities.

– Restaurants and cafes can offer outdoor services to 50 people, while indoor seating will be limited to 30 people.

– The same capacity applies for outdoor events (50 people) and indoor conferences (30 people).

– Shopping malls, retail shops, outdoor cinemas, outdoor gyms, sports halls, and swimming pools to be open for the approved individuals.

– Services that do not require removing the mask, such as salons, barbershops, spas will also be open.

Hypermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, gas stations, private health clinics, pharmacies, banks, currency exchange services, and administrative offices are some of the establishments open to all during the Eid Al Adha holidays.

The taskforce emphasised the importance of following preventive measures and procedures throughout the Arafat and Eid Al Adha holidays.

They will also be reviewing the average Covid-19 positivity rates on July 23 to determine the alert level.

Bahrain has been tightening certain restrictions even as it reopens economic activities. On Tuesday, it added 16 countries to its red list for travel, taking the total number of destinations on the list to 22.

Among the new entries are South Africa, Malaysia, Mexico, Iraq and Iran.

Read: Bahrain adds 16 countries to travel ‘red list’ including the Philippines, Indonesia

Bahrain adds 16 countries to travel ‘red list’ including the Philippines, Indonesia