Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has issued a royal order enforcing curfew in the kingdom from 7 pm to 6 am from March 23 for a period of 21 days to limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus – COVID-19.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the order is in line with the King’s concern for the health and safety of Saudi Arabia’s citizens and expatriates. The order has requested the Ministry of Interior to take the necessary measures to implement the curfew, and has asked all civil and military authorities to cooperate fully with the same in this regard.
Exempt from the curfew are employees of the vital areas of the public and private sectors, including employees of security, military and media sectors, and workers in sensitive health and service sectors.
The vital activities that are excluded from the curfew are:
First
- The food sector (points of sale), such as catering, supermarkets, vegetable, poultry, and meat shops, bakeries, and food factories.
- The health sector, such as pharmacies and relevant sectors like medical clinics, hospitals, laboratories, factories of medical devices and materials.
- The media sector in its various means.
- The transportation sector, such as transporting goods, parcels, customs clearance, warehouses, logistics services, and supply chains of health and food sectors, and port operation.
- E-commerce activities, such as those working in electronic purchases applications and delivery applications for the excluded activities.
- Accommodation services, such as hotels and furnished apartments.
- The energy sector, such as fuel stations and emergency services of the Saudi Electricity Company.
- The financial services and insurance sector, such as managing accidents (Najm), urgent health insurance services (approvals), and other insurance services.
- The telecom sector, such as the internet and communication network operators.
- The water sector, such as the water company emergency services and home drinking water delivery service.
Second
- Allowing movement during the time of the curfew for security, military and health cars, government regulatory services vehicles, as well as vehicles of activities excluded in item (First)
Third
- Allowing delivery of food, medicinal needs, and other essential goods and services through using smart device applications (express delivery services) during the time of curfew.
Fourth
- Allow the Muezzins to reach the mosques to recite the call to prayer during the time of curfew.
Fifth
- Allow the workers in diplomatic missions and international organizations and residents of the diplomatic quarter to move during the time of curfew from and to their workplaces.
SPA reported that the royal order urged citizens to stay home during this period of 21 days, especially during the curfew, and not to leave their homes except in cases of extreme necessity.