Saudi Arabia Extends Coronavirus Curfew Indefinitely

Saudi Arabia's King Salman extended the nationwide curfew until further notice due to the outbreak of the latest coronavirus, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday, after more than 300 new infections have been reported by the Kingdom in each of the last four days.

Elsewhere, the curfew which began on March 23 runs from 3 pm to 6 am.

The country of some 30 million recorded 4,033 infections with 52 deaths, the highest among the six Arab Gulf States with a total of more than 13,200 with 88 deaths despite strict control measures.

The kingdom has halted international flights, suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage, and closed most public places. Other Gulf states have taken similar precautions.

The interior ministry said all precautionary measures across Saudi Arabia's 13 regions remain in place.

The eastern Qatif region, where the first cases of coronavirus were reported among Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims returning from Iran, has been sealed since 8 March.

The United Arab Emirates, the tourist and industry center of the country, has the second-highest number of 3,736 cases with 20 deaths.

Several Gulf Arab states have seen the virus spread among low-wage foreign workers, many of whom live in overcrowded accommodations.

Qatar has locked down a large section of an industrial area, Dubai has sealed off two commercial districts with a large population of migrant workers, and Oman has closed off its Muscat governorate, which includes the capital.

Millions of migrant workers, mainly from Asian countries, including Nepal, India and the Philippines, are among the region’s large expatriate population.

India's ambassador to the UAE told local English-language daily Gulf News on Saturday that the Indian government cannot repatriate a large number of its nationals while trying to break the chain of infection at home.

"At this stage, we feel that it is best for them (Indians wishing to return home) to stay where they are," Pavan Kapoor was quoted as saying. "Once the lockdown in India is lifted, we will certainly help them get back to their home towns and their families."

Source: Reuters