Saudi announces revised curfew hours during Ramadan

Saudi Arabia has announced revised curfew timings during Ramadan, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

An official source at the Ministry of Interior revealed that – depending on where they stay – residents will be permitted to leave their homes for essential shopping during the day.

Those residing in regions and cities in which 24-hour curfew is not implemented will be allowed to leave their homes from 9am to 5pm.

In cities and governorates in which 24-hour curfew is implemented, residents will be permitted to step out between 9am and 5pm only for essential needs such as medical care and grocery shopping within their neighbourhood. Also, only two people are permitted to be in one vehicle at a time.

Meanwhile residents of neighbourhoods that are under quarantine will not be allowed to leave their homes.

The official source also said that these measures are part of the kingdom’s efforts to counter the coronavirus pandemic, urging people to abide by the precautions.

Saudi Arabia imposed an evening curfew across the kingdom on March 23 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Read: Saudi King extends curfew until further notice

It later extended that to a 24-hour curfew in several cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Dammam. Under the curfew, entry into and exit from these areas has been banned until further notice.

The ban does not extend to those already exempted, including employees of vital sectors in government and private sectors.

Read: Saudi imposes 24-hour curfew in several cities including Riyadh, Dammam

The kingdom recorded 1,147 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, with the total tally now at 11,631. That includes 9,882 active cases, 81 of them critical.

Officials announced that six patients had died, raising the death toll to 109.

Meanwhile the total number of recoveries has reached 1,640.