The preventative measures introduced in Bahrain to stop the spread of coronavirus has reduced traffic by up to 90%, the Director-General of Traffic has revealed.
Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa said traffic in all governorates, main roads, markets, commercial malls and residential areas has gone down by 90 percent in the morning and 85 percent in the evening.
He added that the figures show the community’s commitment to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Bahrain.
A report into traffic flow has shown that the school closures alone have reduced traffic by 40 percent in the morning and 10 percent in the evening.
Data released by Google has revealed further changes in Bahrain, including use of parks and visits to retail shops.
According to these statistics, Bahrain’s use of parks has gone down 31 percent, and retail and recreation activities are also down 39 percent.
Dr Omar Al Ubaidly, Director – Studies and Research of Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) emphasised the importance of taking early steps against COVID-19 in ensuring the continuity of these segments.
He said: “The question of how to balance health and economic interests during the pandemic is a very difficult one being faced by all countries at present.
“What is certain is that any tradeoff between the two is significantly improved by having better levels of preparation and testing. In this regard, Bahrain’s early steps have allowed it to maintain more normal lifestyles for its residents while still limiting the spread of the coronavirus.”
