Saudi authorities have imposed a curfew of 21 days to curb the unfold of the coronavirus. PHOTO: AFP
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday sealed off the capital Riyadh and two of Islam’s holiest cities and prolonged curfew hours because it reported its second loss of life from the brand new coronavirus.
The dominion barred entry and exit from Riyadh in addition to Mecca and Medina and prohibited motion between all provinces, the official Saudi Press Company reported, because the well being ministry stated the whole variety of infections spiked to 900.
Saudi Arabia, which has reported the very best variety of infections within the Gulf, on Monday started implementing an 11-hour nationwide curfew — beginning at 7 pm — to restrict the unfold of the lethal COVID-19 sickness.
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The curfew hours had been introduced ahead to three pm within the three cities, SPA stated citing measures accepted by King Salman that can take impact from Thursday.
Authorities plan to implement the curfew for 21 days and have warned that transgressors might be fined 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,663) and will face jail for repeated breaches.
The well being ministry on Wednesday stated a resident of Mecca was the second particular person to die from the illness within the kingdom.
The Arab world’s greatest financial system has additionally closed down cinemas, malls and eating places, halted flights and suspended the year-round Umrah pilgrimage because it steps up efforts to comprise the virus.
King Salman warned final week of a “more difficult” battle forward in opposition to the virus, as the dominion faces the financial double blow of virus-led shutdowns and crashing oil costs.
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The king will chair an emergency digital summit of leaders from the Group of 20 main economies on Thursday to debate a worldwide response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Final week, the dominion unveiled stimulus measures amounting to 120 billion riyals ($32 billion) to help companies and stated it plans to lift borrowing to 50 per cent of gross home product (GDP).
Comparable restrictions and stimulus measures have been reported by different nations within the Gulf, the place greater than 2,400 coronavirus infections have been reported up to now.
