PEOPLE who forge the ‘green shield’ on their BeAware app or generate fake Covid-19 vaccination or recovered certificates could be jailed for up to 10 years.
Those found aiding or abetting the crime will also face the same penalty, the Interior Ministry has warned.
In a Twitter post, ministry senior officer Captain Dr Abdullah Nasser Albuflasa highlighted punitive measures for violating procedures stipulated for each of the four levels of the traffic-light-signal mechanism, adopted to tackle the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
“Anyone found to have forged the green shield will face a jail term of not less than three years that could go up to 10 years,” said the officer.
Immunity
“The same penalty applies to an accomplice in the crime.”
A vaccinated or Covid-19 recovered person can sport the green shield on their BeAware app two weeks after the second dose. It indicates that the individaul has gained the ideal immunity to fight the infection.
Bahrain has mandated the green shield for people to enter public premises.
“Home gatherings are permitted when the country is on the green level, while only up to 30 people are allowed to gather in the yellow level,” said the officer.
“The number will be reduced to six when the country enters the orange zone and, no gatherings will be allowed if we step into the red.
“Violators could face up to three months in jail and a fine of up to BD10,000.”
The GDN reported earlier this month that the traffic-light style mechanism will be implemented on four levels – green, yellow, orange and red – based on the average percentage of positive cases out of the daily Covid-19 tests.
Bahrain is currently in the yellow zone. However, when the average percentage of Covid-19 cases exceeds eight per cent over any three-day period it will go into a red-level lockdown. If the percentage stays between 5pc and 8pc over a five-day period, the orange level will be implemented. It will move to yellow when the average stays between 2pc and 5pc over a seven-day period. When the percentage dips below 2pc and stays so for a 14-day period, green level Covid-19 guidelines will apply.
Patients who fail to report the infection will also be penalised as its tantamount to ‘endangering’ others in society, the officer said.
“Anyone who knows an infected person and fails to report them, if found, will face imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to BD5,000,” said Captain Dr Albuflasa.
“Anyone who chooses to hide that he/she is infected and ventures outdoors or breaks home quarantine rules will be jailed for not less than three months – which could go up to three years.
“They will also face a fine of not less than BD1,000 and not more than BD10,000.
“This is a grave crime as it is equal to endangering people’s lives.”
He also warned restaurants to follow regulations.
“Restaurants and other establishments directly engaging with customers will face twice the fine – BD20,000 – if they violate regulations, especially if we go into the red zone.”
He urged members of the public not to drop their guard as the country is not free from the infection yet.
Meanwhile, the ministry said its security directorate booked 95,787 violations for not wearing facemask in public places, and took 11,567 measures for not maintaining social distancing. A total of 13,397 awareness campaigns were carried out until July 7.
The National Ambulance Centre received 17,270 reports of Covid-19. It made 39,075 trips to transfer 104,681 people during the same period.
The Civil Defence carried out 352,472 disinfection and sterilisation operations in buildings, government facilities, streets, roads and other areas, while training courses were attended by 2,271 people.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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