Bahrain has turned a mall largely emptied by the coronavirus pandemic into a vaccination hub as the Gulf state races to protect its population from Covid-19.

According to Reuters, Sitra Mall used to draw people in to access government offices, but the pandemic closed those outlets and their services were offered virtually.

With only a few fast food outlets and a supermarket open, Bahrain’s health authorities this week turned the mall into a giant vaccination hub.

“A lot of people are coming per hour,” said Basma Mahmoud, a public health and epidemiology consultant at the new centre.