Fun in the sun but with strict safety guidelines

TDT | Manama

This summer, citizens and residents can now visit private beaches after a long hiatus but with very strict safety measures in place. Only groups with a maximum of five members can visit private beaches. Keeping in line with social distancing measures, while at the beach, they must also lounge on seats or the sand with a minimum distance of two meters between each other.

Bahrain’s Minister of Health, Faeqa bint Saeed Al-Saleh, said this in an official statement yesterday to contain and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). All private beaches across the Kingdom are expected to follow the rules to ensure the health and safety of visitors. The decision also listed out some specific rules for the administrations of each private beach.

The facility management must use clear visual signs for one-way entry and exit paths. Baths, saunas, changing rooms and other common areas (except for toilets) must remain closed until further notice. The facility management must ensure that toilets are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised after each use.

Staff members are expected to clean and disinfect their electronic devices upon leaving work. Plenty of trash cans must be available on site for the visitors to dispose their trash carefully and correctly. The staff must ensure that the garbage is cleared out often and in safe conditions.

Social distancing must always be maintained, and signs must be put up at regular intervals to remind beach-goers of the same. The health minister’s decision called on all private facilities to clean and disinfect their premises according to health guidelines and disinfect used daily rental equipment and tools after each use. The guidelines also pointed out that towels should be washed with warm water, at 80 degrees or higher but before it reaches a boiling point.