Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Despite the massive spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in India, Bahrain has not stopped its direct flights with India.

While Manama continues to operate 4 flights per week, 3 to Delhi and one to Mumbai, many countries have stopped flights with India in order to reduce the risk of new strains spreading.

The Bahraini government has ignored popular calls to halt trips as the health system collapses and many Indians flee their country. The government has not put out any statement regarding its insistence on continuing flights.

Bahrain is among the few countries that still open their doors to those coming from a country, considered to be the world's largest COVID-19 pandemic epicenter.

Bahrain receives regular arrivals from India. Many travelers head to Bahrain to stay there for 14 days before flying to their final destination.

A number of european countries, for example, are banning travelers from India from entering if they will not be staying for two weeks.

"There are a lot of travelers, who are eager to get out (of India) and don't mind being stopped for two weeks," says an Indian newspaper.

In order to go around the ban in European countries, "those who can afford the expenses of staying for an additional two weeks head to places where they can wait until the end of this period."

"With the UAE restricting travel from India, Bahrain emerged as the most reasonable option," it added.

Perhaps the government made this decision to revitalize certain sectors, such as aviation and hotels, which have been affected for over a year by the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The price of a one-way trip from India to Bahrain amounts to about 300 dinars, while a travel ban is being imposed on Indian nationals to many regions around the world.

This approach; however, which includes the opening of markets and restaurants, and allowing gatherings and transportation, carries great risks, including the transmission of new strains of the virus to Bahrain and the increase of the number of infections, causing pressure on the health system.

On Friday (May 7, 2021), Bahrain set a record in the number of infections with the Coronavirus, as the Ministry of Health stated it had recorded 1,704 new cases.

The government should in fact take into account the economic and financial conditions when making its decisions, but this should not be at the expense of the safety of its citizens and residents.

Allowing flights to and from India, despite the catastrophic situation there and the travel ban imposed by many countries, leads to major consequences to which the government can't keep turning a blind eye.

Arabic Version