Saudi Arabia: Nationwide curfew implemented March 23 /update 17

Saudi authorities implement nationwide curfew amid COVID-19 spread March 23; follow authority directives
Read all related news alert(s):
Saudi Arabia: Authorities suspend flights to Brazil, India, and Argentina September 23 /update 48
Saudi Arabia: Authorities to lift some international flight restrictions from September 15 /update 47
Saudi Arabia: International flights remain suspended until further notice September 2 /update 46
Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend international flight ban until September 29 /update 45
Saudi Arabia: Over 300,000 COVID-19 cases reported as of August 18 /update 44
Saudi Arabia: Authorities reopen land borders with UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait August 5 /update 43
Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend visas for expats outside of the Kingdom until October 27 /update 42
Saudi Arabia: Over 750,000 COVID-19 cases reported as of August 1 /update 41
Saudi Arabia: Foreign residents to remain banned from returning until end of COVID-19 crisis June 24 /update 40
Saudi Arabia: Curfew to be lifted from June 21 /update 39
Saudi Arabia: All international flight operations suspended indefinitely June 15 /update 38
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Airlines to gradually resume domestic flights from May 31 /update 37
Saudi Arabia: Authorities to gradually remove curfews nationwide between May 28-June 21 /update 36
Saudi Arabia: Over 70,000 cases of COVID-19 confirmed as of May 24 /update 35
Saudi Arabia: Lockdown measures introduced in Baish province (Jazan region) as of May 12 to curb the spread of COVID-19 /update 34
Saudi Arabia: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions in several districts of Medina May 9 /update 33
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose lockdown on industrial area in Dammam May 2 /update 32
Saudi Arabia: Saudi government to allow entry into and exit from Qatif province from April 30 /update 31
Saudi Arabia: Partial lifting of curfews for Ramadan across Kingdom from April 26 /update 30
Saudi Arabia: Curfew hours modified for Ramadan April 21 /update 29
Saudi Arabia: Authorities implement 24-hour curfew on two districts in Jizan province April 17 /update 28
Saudi Arabia: Authorities isolate Al-Atheer district in Dammam April 15 /update 27
Saudi Arabia: Nationwide curfew extended indefinitely April 12 /update 26
Saudi Arabia: Several districts of Medina placed on lockdown April 10 due to COVID-19 /update 25
Saudi Arabia: Uber temporarily suspends service in several cities April 7 /update 24
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose 24-hour curfews in multiple cities April 6 /update 23
Saudi Arabia: Curfew hours revised in Dammam, Taif, and Qatif April 3 /update 22
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina April 2 /update 21
Saudi Arabia: Authorities impose lockdown on Jeddah March 29 /update 20
Saudi Arabia: Government implements new domestic restrictions due to COVID-19 March 25 /update 19
Saudi Arabia: Country confirms first COVID-19 death March 24 /update 18
Saudi Arabia: Domestic transportation to be suspended from March 21 /update 16
Saudi Arabia: Government confirms 238 COVID-19 cases March 18 /update 15
Saudi Arabia: Government suspends all international travel for two weeks starting March 15 /update 14
Saudi Arabia: Government suspends travel to the EU and other countries March 12 /update 13
Saudi Arabia: Authorities extend travel suspension to five other countries March 9 /update 12
Saudi Arabia: Authorities implement travel suspension for nine countries March 9 /update 11
Saudi Arabia: Authorities lock down Qatif region amid COVID-19 outbreak March 8 /update 10
Saudi Arabia: Government includes Saudi citizens in Mecca travel ban March 4 /update 9
Saudi Arabia: New entry restrictions for GCC citizens and residents March 3 /update 8
Saudi Arabia: Health Ministry reports first case of COVID-19 in country March 2 /update 7
Saudi Arabia: Government bars GCC citizens from entering Mecca and Medina due to COVID-19 February 28 /update 6
Saudi Arabia: Government halts visas for tourists from affected countries amid COVID-19 outbreak February 28 /update 5
Saudi Arabia: Government issues new COVID-19 entry restrictions February 27 /update 4
Saudi Arabia: Government advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Singapore February 19 /update 3
Saudi Arabia: Government suspends travel to China for citizens and residents February 6 /update 2
Saudi Arabia: Saudia suspends flights to China February 2 /update 1
Event
Saudi authorities announced a nationwide curfew will be implemented beginning Monday, March 23, following an increase in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. The curfew will run from 19:00 to 06:00 (local time) for 21 days.
The government suspended all domestic transportation services for 14 days from 06:00 (local time) on Saturday, March 21, affecting domestic flights, trains, buses, and taxis. All international travel has been suspended for two weeks from Sunday, March 15, and most private sector business have been ordered to suspend operations for 15 days. Only businesses providing vital food, health, or utility services will remain operational. Malls, restaurants, coffee shops, and public parks are also closed.
To prevent further spread of the virus, authorities ordered a temporary lockdown of the eastern Qatif region, on Sunday, March 8, after 11 individuals from the area tested positive for the virus. All entry and exit into Qatif has been halted, and work at all government and private institutions has been suspended. The education minister announced on Sunday that all schools and universities nationwide will be suspended from Monday, March 9, until further notice.
As of Sunday, March 22, there are 511 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia. Further international spread of the virus is expected over the near term.
Context
The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.
Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.
Advice
Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly, and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone non-essential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.
To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:
- Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
- If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.
Copyright and Disclaimer
GardaWorld is the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights in the material presented on this website. All such rights are reserved.
The use of this website and its material is subject to the Terms of Use and accordingly you must not use any content from this website for commercial or other analogous purposes without our consent,
including but not limited to any deep-linking or framing in order to copy, distribute, display or monitor any portion of the website.
If you have any questions or are interested in distributing any content from this website, Contact us for more details.