Saudi Arabia announces 9 urgent measures to combat Corona outbreak

The Saudi Interior Ministry announced the tightening of precautionary measures to deal with the Corona epidemic, with signs of an increase in the epidemic curve in some regions of the Kingdom, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

An official source from the Ministry of the Interior pointed out that the decision was made “as a result of the statement issued on 28 Shawwal 1441 AH corresponding to June 20, 2020 CE and based on what was presented by the competent health authorities on the measures taken by the Kingdom in the face of the emerging coronavirus (Covid 19), and coinciding with the appearance of indicators of increase in the epidemiological curve in some regions of the Kingdom, laxity in the application of preventive and precautionary measures and approved protocols, and the need to take preventive and precautionary measures in accordance with the needs of the current situation, and given what the countries of the world are witnessing about the emergence of a second wave of coronavirus (Covid 19) and the importance of preserving public health and the lack of emergency A second wave of outbreaks in the Kingdom, which may lead to increased pressure on health facilities and the difficulty of controlling the pandemic.

The new decisions include:

First: stop all events and parties, including weddings, corporate meetings and the like, in banquet halls and independent or hotel-affiliated wedding halls, as well as in breaks and camps that are used for these purposes, and that this is for a 30-day period, renewable.

Second: Without prejudice to what is established in Clause (First), the maximum number of human meetings in social events will not exceed (20) people for a period of (10) extendable days.

Third: stop all activities and entertainment events for a period of (10) extendable days.

Fourth: Closure of cinemas, indoor entertainment centers and independent indoor games or restaurants, shopping centers, etc., as well as gyms and sports centers, for a period of (10) renewable days.

Fifth: Suspend the provision of internal order services in restaurants, cafes and the like, and limit it to the submission of external requests for a period of (10) days, extendable, without allowing any collection resulting from those external requests, and that the Ministry of Municipal, Rural and Housing Affairs closes the establishment that violates this for a period of (24) hours, and if the violation is repeated for the first time, the closure is for a period of (48) hours, and for a period of (one week) if repeated for the second time, and for a period of (two weeks) for the third time, and if the violation is repeated for the fourth time and more, the facility will be closed for a period of (one month) Without prejudice of the application of any other sanction prescribed for said infractions.

Sixth: Intensify monitoring efforts in the implementation of protocols and precautions of all authorities, especially the ministries (Interior, Commerce, Human Resources and Social Development, Tourism, Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing), the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the General Entertainment Authority. , and take the necessary measures to control infractions in the corresponding places. Monitor it and impose sanctions on violators.

Seventh: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Housing, has assigned field control teams to ensure compliance with the application of preventive and precautionary measures and approved protocols, social distancing and use of masks in cemeteries.

Eighth: Distribute the prayers for funerals in cemeteries at all times of the day to reduce the number of mourners at the same time, in addition to preparing places for the funeral prayer to apply social distancing during prayer, and so that burial places are separated in time by a distance of 100 meters – as much as possible – in the cemetery, to ensure separation between the mourners.

Ninth: The Ministry of Municipal, Rural and Housing Affairs and the supervisory authorities and others to strengthen control over restaurants and cafes to ensure the implementation of precautionary measures, and to emphasize restaurants and cafes to activate the use of surveillance cameras, and establish warning panels that indicate that the place is monitored with cameras to ensure the degree of compliance with precautionary measures and health protocols.

The ministry said that the decisions will come into effect from ten in the morning on Thursday, February 4, 2021.

The Ministry of the Interior confirmed that these measures were taken within the framework of the Kingdom’s efforts to preserve public health and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, and that it is subject to continuous evaluation with the competent health authorities to take the necessary additional measures. . measures if necessary, and calls on everyone to feel their responsibility, abide by instructions and adhere to procedures To achieve the public interest.