Saudi Seizes 5 million Illegally Stored Medical Masks

More than five million surgical masks were seized by Saudi authorities that were unlawfully held in the coronavirus epidemic, state media reported on Sunday.

The Ministry of Commerce seized 1.17 million masks from a private store in Hail, northwest of the capital after authorities confiscated more than four million masks held in a warehouse in western Jeddah city in breach of export regulations on Wednesday, official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry stated that citizens would be punished behind these practices and that the stolen masks would be returned to the free sector.

Oil-rich kingdom pharmacies have reported mask shortages amid panic purchasing, as officials cautioned against price rises.

Saudi Arabia is scrambling to limit the spread of the deadly disease at home.

The kingdom's health ministry has reported more than 1,200 COVID-19 infections and four deaths so far, the highest number of cases in the Gulf region.

It has instituted a partial national curfew, banned entry and exit from Riyadh, as well as the two holiest cities of Islam, Mecca, and Medina, and forbid travel between all provinces.

Last week King Salman warned against the virus as the Kingdom confronts the economic double hit of virus-led shutdowns and falling oil prices from a "more difficult" battle forward.

Source: AFP