Covid-19: Saudi Arabia To Impose 24-Hour Curfew During Eid Al-Fitr

Saudi Arabia Government says it would impose a nationwide 24-hour curfew during the five-day Muslim Eid Al-Fitr (May 23 to 27) after Ramadan, as part of measures to curb the spread of covid-19.

The nation’s Interior Ministry disclosed this in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.  “A full lockdown will be imposed from May 23 to 27 following the end of the fasting month of Ramadan,” it stated.

Furthermore, it added that apart from the Holy city of Mecca(which is on total lockdown), people can move about and engage in their daily activities from 9 am to 5 pm, before Eid.

“Until then, commercial and business enterprises will remain open as they now are and people can move freely between 9 am local time (06:00 GMT) and 5 pm, except in the holy city of Mecca which remains under a full curfew,” the statement said.

Aljazeera reports that the kingdom, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in the Gulf region, is scrambling to limit the spread of the deadly disease.

The number of COVID-19 deaths in the country stood at 264 (Tuesday) out of 42,925 infections, according to government data.