Capital police ramp up inspections

TDT | Manama

Capital Directorate of Police is ramping up efforts to check violations of COVID-19 precautionary measures, as the number of positive cases in the Kingdom nears 25,000. The move follows repeated warnings by the authorities to ensure social distancing and other precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Yesterday’s efforts were part of a campaign by the Capital officials to help the nation battle the outbreak effectively. Officials visited several markets and commercial stores in there to ensure the strict following of preventing measures in public settings. Inspectors from the ministry of health, Ministry of Industry, and capital secretariat jointly held the inspections, the Director-General of the Capital Governorate Police Directorate said.

The move, the Director-General said, falls within the purview of Bahrain’s legislation to monitor and support national efforts to combat the deadly pandemic. Corrective actions and legal measures were taken against violations found. The team also penalised several for failing to wear a face mask in violation of health guidelines.

Overcrowding issues A week ago, the municipal council voted to close down some ‘karak’ tea and coffee shops operating in Riffa due to increasing concerns about overcrowding in residential areas. The crowds at such stores rarely maintain social distancing despite the government’s strict health and safety rules.

The news, when posted on a popular Instagram page, garnered comments in support of the move as well as against it. “Overcrowding is not a new phenomenon - people are too lazy to park appropriately and walk to the shops - instead they block the road - they just need a ticket from the traffic police - this will soon stop this issue,” said one concerned reader.

Residents from Manama have also raised concerns over overcrowding and safety issues at cafes while speaking to the Tribune. Cafeteria a concern Another resident of Manama sought action against a local cafeteria that is in close vicinity to his mother’s restaurant while speaking to Tribune.

He explained that the narrow road that his mother’s restaurant shares with the cafeteria in question gets crowded with too many people daily. Raising concerns over the safety of his mother, her staff and customers, he said that “customers at the cafeteria don’t keep social distance between each other and they all come walking from their homes to buy things.”