Manama: Saudi Arabia imposed a 24-hour curfew in Al-Atheer district in Dammam city in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), which has infected more than 5,862 people and killed 79.
The curfew came to effect on Wednesday, and will remain in force until further orders, ministry of interior said.
Entry to or exit from the district will not be allowed, except for vital workers. Residents are allowed to leave their homes for medical or food needs between 6 am and 3 pm only.
Quoting an official source at the Ministry of Interior, the state run SPA news agency said that the district was isolated and placed under a 24-hour curfew to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents. All authorized activities will continue unhindered, it added.
Al-Atheer is one of the 76 neighbourhoods in the city of Dammam, the capital of Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Qatif governorate in the eastern province, where the kingdom’s first coronavirus cases were reported, has been on temporary lockdown since March 8.
In order to curb to spread of the virus, it has already halted international and domestic flights, suspended the Umrah pilgrimage, halted public transport, and closed public places. The nationwide partial curfew was extended until further orders starting 13 April.
Saudi Arabia clamped a 24-hour curfew and lockdown in Damam and other big cities, which is still in effect.
Saudi Arabia is the worst-hit country in the GCC, followed by the United Arab Emirates. The country had its largest single-day rise yet, with 493 new cases of coronavirus. Saudi Arabia reported six more deaths from the virus on Wednesday. 71 critically ill patients continue to receive intensive care. The number of recoveries stood at 931 after 42 cured Wednesday. The active cases now stands at 4,852.
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 5,800 cases in a population of over three crore.
