RIYADH: Violators of Saudi Arabia’s nationwide curfew that started on Monday will face a fine of SR10,000 ($2,665), and repeat offenders could be sent to jail for up to 20 days, the Saudi Ministry of Interior said.
King Salman on Sunday issued an order imposing a curfew across the Kingdom to control the coronavirus outbreak.
A royal court statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the curfew will start at 7 p.m. and run until 6 a.m. every day for the next 21 days from the evening of March 23, 2020.
The ministry earlier said it will undertake necessary measures to implement the curfew, with civil and military authorities ordered to fully cooperate.
Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Col. Talal Mashhoud told a news conference, during which 51 new infections were announced, that security forces would enforce the curfew and that if needed “military authorities may be called upon.”
The Kingdom has 562 cases of coronavirus so far.
Saudi Commerce Ministry spokesman Abdulrahman Al-Hussein told reporters that pharmacies, supermarkets and restaurants would offer delivery services during the curfew.
The Ministry of Commerce said all catering and food services, as well as delivery applications, would continue during the curfew to all citizens and residents, adding that it could continue to monitor the market during this period.
The ministry also said it was investigating a number of violations related to the coronavirus crisis, among them practices aimed at creating a shortage of commodities in the health sector, especially sterilizers and medical masks, as well as violations by some suppliers to raise prices and exploit the crisis.
Meanwhile, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said it would continue to receive air cargo via all airport terminals in the Kingdom around the clock.
The measures include requiring beneficiaries and air freight companies operating in the Kingdom’s airports to apply health and safety precautions.
Since King Salman issued the curfew, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority has rushed to ensure that stocks of pharmaceutical medicines and equipments are readily available.
The authority also began issuing immediate approvals for applications for the registration, manufacture and import of pharmaceutical supplies and sterilizers.
