Research from Google has shown Bahrain has experienced the least reduction in mobility across the GCC region as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Across a series of metrics – parks, retail and recreation, workplaces, grocery and pharmacy, transit stations and residential – the findings revealed the average reduction for the region in the first three months of 2020 was 34.1 percent.
Bahrain experienced the least mobility reduction, with a drop of 21.2 percent, followed by Kuwait (-36.3 percent), Oman (-37.8 percent), Saudi Arabia (-38.5 percent) and the UAE (-42.33 percent).
Residential mobility, as well as the grocery and pharmacy segment, were least impacted across the region, with respective changes of -27 percent and +22.83 percent, on average.
The most substantial effects were recorded in the transit and retail segments, with average reductions of 60 percent and 53.2 percent respectively, due to a series of protective measures against Covid-19 put in place across the GCC.
These have included lockdowns or curfews by Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while all nations have suspended the majority of passenger flights to combat the spread.
Bahrain’s response – which was praised by the World Health Organisation during the early stages of the outbreak – has involved keeping open shops and other essential facilities while increasing public testing capabilities.
Dr Omar Al Ubaidly, director – studies and research of Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat), 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.”
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