RIYADH, April 26, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Saudi Arabia on Sunday partially eased a
24-hour curfew in place to combat the coronavirus pandemic, except for in
hotspots including the Muslim holy city of Makkah.
The curfew will be relaxed between 9am and 5pm and malls and retailers will
be allowed to reopen in all regions of the kingdom until May 13, the official
Saudi Press Agency reported.
But a round-the-clock lockdown will be maintained in some areas including
Mecca, which has reported the kingdom’s highest number of infections in recent
days despite being sealed off.
Many countries around the Middle East and North Africa have announced a
similar easing of lockdown restrictions as Muslims mark the holy fasting month
of Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia, which has reported the highest number of infections in the
Arab world, is scrambling to limit the spread of the disease at home.
On Saturday the health ministry said deaths from the respiratory illness had
risen to 136, while confirmed infections rose to 16,299 with 2,215 people
reported to have recovered from the illness.
Last month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage over
fears of the coronavirus pandemic spreading in Islam’s holiest cities.
Authorities are yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year’s
hajj, scheduled for the end of July, but they have urged Muslims to
temporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage.
Last year, some 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across
the world to participate in the hajj, which Muslims are obliged to perform at
least once in their lives if able.
The Arab world’s biggest economy has also closed cinemas, malls and
restaurants and halted flights as it attempts to contain the virus.
King Salman has warned of a “more difficult” fight ahead against the virus,
as the kingdom faces the economic impact of virus-led shutdowns and crashing
oil prices.