DRONES could be deployed at public beaches and parks to urge people not to gather, as many continue to disregard measures introduced to limit the spread of Covid-19.
Despite efforts by the Health Ministry, the Interior Ministry and other governmental agencies, people are still not properly practising social distancing with Bahrain witnessing a spike in the number of cases.
The GDN witnessed droves of Bahrainis and expatriates visiting coastlines, parks and walkways yesterday, with a strong presence from community police asking them to either leave or follow guidelines.
While Bahrain has reopened many businesses, a ban on public gatherings of more than five people still stands along with wearing face masks in public and observing social distancing.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah called for stricter measures, including deploying drones at popular public spaces during the weekend.
“What can be done is to continue raising awareness through traditional media and social media in more than one language until people are convinced to change behaviours to what is permitted and acceptable,” he said.
“It was suggested that drones be used by the Community Police of the Interior Ministry to give instructions to the public.”
The GDN reported last month that traffic authorities have started using drones equipped with loudspeakers to educate cyclists and pedestrians about adhering to regulations.
The Traffic Directorate said at the time that the drones also identify groups that defy the social distancing norms and warn drivers against wrong parking or traffic obstruction.
A well-placed source told the GDN that gatherings were a weekly occurrence at some sites such as the beach at the Northern Town and Karbabad Coastline despite numerous warnings by the police.
“As soon as one group starts going regularly to the beach other people see that and they want to join in,” he said.
“When this happens then there is a large number of them until the police come to ask them to leave.
“Every weekend, people come to the beach, some people go swimming, families bring their kids, some people just stay on the beach, and after a while a police patrol arrives to tell them to leave.
“However, these people keep coming back the following weekend.”
Councillor Zaina Jassim said the Northern Municipal Council has also been clamping down on street vendors who frequent beaches and parks in order to reduce gatherings.
“The Interior Ministry in co-ordination with the Northern Municipality is working to reduce the number of gatherings of groups of more than five people at beaches and coasts in Bahrain, which is the same limit that is applied in shops and people are obligated to wear masks,” she said.
“These rules must be followed so that life can return to normal one day.
“As for us, in our role as a municipal council, there is continuous co-ordination regarding the prevention of mobile street vendors, in order to ensure that there are no gatherings in beaches as well as parks.”
Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Waleed Al Manea said earlier this week that the noticeable spike in the number of cases was because of gatherings during Ramadan and the Eid Al Fitr holiday, with people not abiding by the health and safety guidelines.
ghazi@gdn.com.bh
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