Coronavirus: Bahrain relaxes restrictions on businesses

The announcement came as a fifth person died from the pandemic

A cat is seen in the street of a closed souq, following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Manama, Bahrain, March 31, 2020. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Bahrain’s trade minister said some businesses on the island have been allowed to re-open, in the first apparent relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in the Arabian Gulf region.

The announcement came hours before the government opened up the online system to allow private sector companies to apply for salary cover from the state.

The state will cover the pay of over 100,000 Bahrainis for three months from April, a measure set to cost $570 million.

The official news agency quoted Zayed Al Zayani as saying on Tuesday that “commercial and industrial shops that provide goods or services directly to the consumer” can reopen.

Mr Al Zayani did not give details on the type of businesses but said they would operate with reduced staff and have to obey social distancing and mask-wearing rules.

He said gyms, cinemas and swimming pools would remain closed under a new order, with restaurants only allowed to operate on delivery bases. Hair salons and shisha cafes also remain closed, he added.

The authorities announced on Tuesday the death of a 70-year old Bahraini who had caught the coronavirus and indicated that infections are particularly rising among migrant workers.

The man is at least the fifth person officially confirmed to have died from the effects of the coronavirus in Bahrain, which has recorded more than 800 cases.

Oman's Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq has pardoned 599 prisoners incarcerated in "different cases", the official news agency said on Wednesday.
The agency said more than half of those who will be released are foreigners. It did not give a number of the total prison population in the country.
The pardon came as Saudi Arabia released people convicted of financial violations and other countries in the Middle East let go of prisoners to lessen the spread of the coronavirus.

Saudi Arabian authorities overnight ordered the immediate release of people held for not repaying their debt.
Justice Minister Walid Al Samaani told the official news agency that the order by King Salman covers all nationalities "as part of the state's efforts to contain the coronavirus".
The order suspends sentencing in debt cases and release "all who have been jailed as a result of these sentences," the agency said.