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Bahrain - More than 500 people from the Southern Governorate have been fined for violating a rule to wear face masks in public, as the country continues to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
In the last two months, 553 people were fined for not wearing face masks in public within efforts to enforce the law, revealed Southern Governorate Police Directorate Division head Captain Ibrahim Al Kaabi.
He was speaking yesterday during the Interior Ministry’s Al Amn (Security) radio show where he also said that police patrols and inspections are being intensified to ensure people adhere to wearing masks and implementing social distancing.
“Community police patrols continue to register violators that aren’t adhering to precautionary measures in place such as wearing face masks,” he said.
“In the last two months we have registered a total of 553 violators up to date.
“We have a security plan that is implemented round the clock to monitor commercial stores and locations where you witness congestion and gathering through intensified efforts by our police and foot patrols.
“These efforts are carried out through direct communication with representatives from the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry to ensure all precautionary measures are implemented along with social distancing for the safety of all citizens and residents while shopping.”
The GDN previously reported that 154 people were fined during the three-day Eid holiday in addition to 750 in the Northern Governorate, while 210 were fined in the Capital Governorate and action was taken against 282 in the Muharraq Governorate.
People who do not wear face masks will be fined BD5 on the spot for every offence but if they fail to pay then their case will be referred to the Public Prosecution.
“Although more than 500 violations were registered in the Southern Governorate, it must be noted that in general awareness levels are high, but we of course always aim to be better and achieve higher results,” added Captain Al Kaabi.
“We have witnessed an increase in the number of new active Covid-19 cases in the last few days, so we need to be more vigilant and be responsible for the safety of the entire community and country.
“We have registered 553 violations in two months and we aim to have none in the next two months.”
Captain Al Kaabi highlighted that violations were not restricted to people not wearing face masks but to also those improperly wearing them without fully covering both their mouth and nose.
He also stressed that efforts continue to raise awareness in the governorate by distributing multilingual brochures highlighting precautionary and preventive measures as well as field visits to raise awareness using loud speakers while urging people to maintain social distancing.
“Migrant workers constitute a large percentage of Bahrain’s population, especially in the Southern Governorate as we have the markets, companies and factories; so we have devised a security plan to ensure their safety and that social distancing is implemented at their residences,” he explained.
“We have spared no effort to raise awareness levels and have provided support by distributing thousands of meals during Ramadan, which we continue to do now, as well as providing additional accommodation to them to reduce congestion.”
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