Saudi Arabia eases coronavirus lockdown measures

Sunday, 26 April 2020 09:09

By Sneha May Francis

Saudi Arabia has amended lockdown restrictions in place to combat the spread of coronavirus.

In an order, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz has revised the curfew timing to fall between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm across all parts of the Kingdom until May 13.

However, the 24-hour curfew in Mecca will remain unchanged, state news agency SPA clarified.

The order also allowed the opening of some economic and commercial activities, which includes wholesale and retail shops in addition to malls, until May 13.

So far, the kingdom has 16,299 positive cases of coronavirus and 136 deaths.

More from International News

Britain working with allies to support shipping through Strait of Hormuz

Britain is working with allies on a range of options to support commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in the face of Iranian threats, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said on Tuesday as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran roils oil prices.
Five Iranian women's soccer players granted humanitarian visas in Australia

Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Almost 700,000 displaced after Israeli strikes on Lebanon, UN agencies say

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has deepened amid the wider Middle East war, with 84 children killed and more than 667,000 people displaced, two UN agencies said on Tuesday.
Iran fighting back but not stronger than U.S. thought, top U.S. general says

Iran is fighting back but is not tougher than the U.S. military expected before the war, the top U.S. general told reporters on Tuesday, as the Pentagon promised its most intense day of strikes in the 10-day-old conflict.