The holiest site for the Islamic believers all around the world, Kaaba, is not accessible due to COVID-19. (Image via The Leaders Online)

Saudi Arabia limits office activities amid COVID-19

The Saudi Arabian government released a circular latter to halt all governmental and private sector office activities, in order to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Saudi Arabia’s Home Affairs Ministry said that the temporary activity ban is not imposed on activities related to daily needs such as drug stores, markets, gas stations, healthcare, and security sectors.

Moreover, the commercial and food transportation coming to and fro the city is still allowed, according to the Indonesian Embassy for Saudi Arabia.

However, even they are not limited by the circular, the government reminded them to adhere to the issued procedure to prevent the outbreak from breaking further.

Currently, Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry had already reported 15 COVID-19 confirmed cases in the land, the majority having come back from Iran or Iraq. The positive patients are being treated at Qatif Hospital. The latest patient is an American coming from the Philippines and Italy, being treated in Riyadh Hospital.

The government shuts down Qatif for a while in an effort to contain the outbreak, an area housing at least 500,000 people. It caused all office activities in Qatif, both governmental and private, stopped for a while. Previously, the government also shuts all travel from infected countries, but air and seaports are still open for trade.

In the religious aspect, the government asked all hatibs to reduce their speech to up to 15 minutes. All of it is done to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Saudi Arabia also temporarily halts all pilgrimage visas since the last February.

Source: https://bit.ly/38xXEja