Parliament will debate an urgent proposal to impose a partial curfew to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
The proposal suggests implementing a nationwide curfew from 6pm until 5am for one month.
The proposal, which was submitted by senior MPs Ahmed Al Salloom and Hamad Al Kooheji, will be discussed at Parliament’s weekly session tomorrow.
Mr Al Salloom, who is the chairman of Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee, highlighted the urgency of the proposal given multiple violations of directives issued for people to remain at home amidst the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19).
“We have submitted this proposal to ensure that movement during official working hours isn’t impacted,” he said.
“The government has already taken great strides in ensuring certain categories are working remotely while others were exempt from coming to offices, so the number of interactions has lessened as many ministries have opted to use modern technology – these are steps in the right direction.
“However, we have noticed that in the afternoons or evenings people are gathering in houses, farms, coastlines and other public spaces.
“They need to understand that these directives don’t mean you are on holiday but they are in place to limit gatherings and to encourage self-isolation.
“By violating the directives people are endangering themselves and others and that’s unacceptable.”
Mr Al Salloom urged the public to “limit life to necessities and essentials” for the time being until the outbreak is contained.
“Shutting down cinemas and restaurants and public spaces doesn’t mean that people can set up mini-cinemas and mini-restaurants in their houses,” he said.
“These directives were all taken to ensure contact among people is reduced and gatherings are limited, with people self-isolating for their own safety and that of their family as this virus can’t be beaten without isolation.
“I personally walked into my house on Thursday and only left yesterday because at the end of the day we have to lead by example.”
Meanwhile, Mr Al Kooheji, who is also the chairman of Parliament’s public utilities affairs committee, said many were blatantly disregarding measures implemented to limit the virus as they continued with their normal activities.
“We didn’t want to reach this point but what we have witnessed is carelessness and lack of awareness among people – especially certain expatriate communities who have continued as if life in Bahrain is normal,” he said.
“We urge the Interior Ministry to beef up security patrols to monitor these gatherings in neighbourhoods and on coastlines as some people are acting irresponsibly and without any sense of national duty.
“(Imposing a curfew) is a decision taken by many neighbouring countries and it is now a necessity in Bahrain to control the situation, which if left unchecked will lead to major losses.”
The proposal will be discussed during Parliament’s weekly session tomorrow.
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