Saudi Arabia puts 24-hour curfew in Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities

Saudi Arabia imposed on Monday a 24-hour curfew in the capital Riyadh and a number of cities effective immediately and until further notice, as a precautionary measure against coronavirus spread, state news agency (SPA) reported.

The cities are Tabuk, Dammam, Dhahran, Al-Hofuf, Jeddah, Taif, Al-Qatif, Al-Khobar. Entry and exit between cities is still under ban. Residents are allowed to leave their houses only for essential needs inside their residential area, and between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. only, SPA added.

“This action comes within the framework of the efforts undertaken by the Kingdom to confront the coronavirus pandemic and in implementation of the recommendations of the competent health authorities to raise the degree of precautionary and preventive measures in order to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents,” the interior source was quoted as saying by the Saudi Press Agency.

The authorities extended the round-the-clock curfew as the kingdom reported four new COVID-19 deaths on Monday, bringing the death toll to 38. The new restrictions are targeted to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Only two passengers, including the driver, will be allowed inside vehicles when heading out for essential needs during the full lockdown, Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry said. The journeys can only be within the neighborhood areas where the residents are registered at, authorities added.

Earlier on Saturday, Saudi authorities imposed a 24-hour curfew in seven neighbourhoods in Jeddah. On Thursday, the authorities extended the curfew in the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina to 24 hours until further notice.

Commercial activities within the residential districts of the cities on lockdown will be suspended except for vital sectors including pharmacies, food supply stores, gas stations, banking services, maintenance and operation, technicians of plumbing, electricity and air conditioning, water delivery services and sanitation tanks, according to the Kingdom’s interior ministry.