The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued several orders regarding the recent measures that were taken across the Kingdom against the novel coronavirus.
The King called for lifting curfew partially in all regions as of Sunday April 26, 2020 until May 13, 2020, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Meanwhile a 24-hour curfew is kept in Makkah city and the isolated districts as announced in the previous decisions and statements.
King Salman also permitted some commercial and economic activities to resume during the aforementioned period in the first provision starting from Wednesday, April 29, 2020, and until May 13, in the following sectors:
1. Wholesale and retail trade stores.
2. Shopping centers (malls).
The royal order emphasized the continuation of preventing any activity in those centers that does not implement social distancing, including beauty clinics, barbershops, sports and health clubs, recreational centers, cinemas, beauty salons, restaurants, cafes and other activities determined by the relevant authorities, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The King's orders also permitted the resumption of construction and factories' activities without time restrictions, according to the nature of their work, starting from Wednesday April 29, 2020 until May 13.
Also, upon his royal orders, the Ministry of Health and the competent authorities, the authorities responsible for monitoring economic, commercial, and industrial activities must follow up the compliance with the precautionary and preventive measures to submit daily reports thereon.
The new orders call for the continuation of applying measures of social distancing, including a prevention of gatherings for social purposes for more than five people, such as wedding events, funerals, etc., as well as gathering in public places.
According to SPA, if instructions and guidelines in this regard were violated, penalties will be imposed and some facilities might be shut.
King Salman also instructed that the Ministry of Interior should coordinate with other competent authorities regarding any amendments to the procedures related to curfew required by the health developments.
The royal order to the concerned authorities seeks to urge citizens, expatriates and employers to assume responsibility and adhere to the precautionary and preventive measures to overcome this pandemic.
