Bahrain's cinemas and gyms to open for vaccinated people on first day of Eid Al Fitr

The rules will also allow people who have recovered from the virus to visit indoor attractions

Bahrain is opening leisure spaces to vaccinated people and those who have recovered from coronavirus from the end of Ramadan and beginning of Eid Al Fitr. Getty

Bahrain will allow indoor gyms, swimming pools, cinemas and other attractions to open to vaccinated people and those who have recovered from coronavirus, officials announced on Wednesday.

The end of Ramadan and beginning of Eid Al Fitr will mark the start of the new rules, said the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus.

The attractions will be open to those who are 14 days past their second Covid-19 vaccine injection and their children, as well as people who have recovered from the virus.

Both categories will need to show their vaccine or recovery status on government health app BeAware Bahrain or show a vaccination certificate.

Spas, mass sporting events and indoor conference centres will also be open under the new rules, but the committee said the changes would be subject to periodic review.

Bahrain is experiencing a tenfold surge in Covid-19 cases, compared with a daily low of about 100 cases a day last November.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health announced 1,020 new cases. Authorities said 57 Covid-19 patients are in a critical condition while another 152 are receiving medical treatment for the disease.

Bahrain offers citizens and residents a choice of four vaccines –  Pfizer/BioNTech, Sinopharm, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sputnik V – free of charge.

Johnson & Johnson's vaccine has been approved for emergency use.

The kingdom took novel approaches to encourage citizens and residents to get vaccinated, including mobile vaccination clinics and converting underused malls.

Vaccinated travellers to Bahrain and those who have recovered from coronavirus will also no longer be required to take a PCR test on arrival, according to Wednesday's announcement.

Coronavirus around the world: in pictures