Manama: Saudi Arabia imposed a 24-hour lockdown in two districts in Al-Hassa governorate, Al-Faisaliah, and Al-Fadhliyah, to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), the state run SPA news agency said.
The lockdown came to effect on Saturday, and will remain in force till further orders, ministry of interior said.
The new measure was imposed to further check the movement of people in the wake raising cases in the region, according to reports.
Entry to or exit from the districts will not be allowed, except for vital workers. Like the curfew in the rest of the country, residents are allowed to leave their homes for medical or food needs between 6 am and 3 pm only.
Certain essential services have been exempted from the purview of the curfew, the officials said, urging the public to stay indoors.
Quoting an official source at the Ministry of Interior, SPA news agency said that the two districts were isolated and placed under a 24-hour lockdown to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents. All authorized activities will continue unhindered, it added.
Al Ahsa is the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia placed Al-Atheer district in eastern province under a 24-hour curfew.
Qatif governorate in the eastern province, where the kingdom’s first coronavirus cases were reported, has been on temporary lockdown since March 8. Saudi Arabia clamped a 24-hour curfew and lockdown in Damam and other big cities, which is still in effect.
Saudi had registered 8,274 coronavirus cases and 92 deaths as of April 18. The country had its highest single-day rise yet, with 1,132 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday.
Though the cases are soaring, the overall comparison shows that Saudi Arabia has reported one of the lowest rates of infections in the region, around 8,200 cases in a population of over three crore.
