Bahrain: ‘Be Aware’ Bracelets to Track Self-Isolating Individuals
The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has begun distributing electronic bracelets compatible with the Kingdom’s COVID-19 contact tracing app, ‘BeAware’.
The application helps in advancing contact tracing efforts to swiftly identify and keep track of all active cases and their contacts.
The decision issued by the Minister of Health, Faeqa bint Saed Al Saleh, obliges self-isolating individuals to wear the electronic bracelet that will notify the monitoring station when they are 15 meters away from their phone, in which case a warning will be sent.
Violators will face legal penalties as per Public Health Law No. 34 for the year 2018, potentially being sentenced to imprisonment for a period not less than 3 months and a fine between BD1,000 and BD10,000, or either one of the two penalties.”
iGA will guide users through the app and all of its features, which requires users to ensure their smart devices are charged and that their location services, Bluetooth, GPS and internet connection are on. iPhone users will need to ensure that the ‘Allow Location Access’ is set at ‘Always’.
Self-isolating individuals using the application must identify their isolation location, in most cases their home, by selecting “Set Home Location” upon arrival. Users can correct location information by calling 444.
Ministry of Health officials may randomly send picture requests to which self-isolating individuals must respond with a photo that clearly shows their face and bracelet.
Attempting to remove or tamper with the bracelet is a violation and officials confirmed the bracelet is waterproof. Self-isolating individuals are also required to schedule a COVID-19 test date 3 days prior to the end of their self-isolation period by calling 444 or visiting the Ministry of Health’s website.
