COVID-19: Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Entertainment Centers

Saudi Arabia has shut down entertainment centres, including cinemas and suspended dine-in services at restaurants in its efforts to tighten coronavirus restriction as infection cases increase.

The Interior Minister on Thursday said that the Kingdom suspended “all events and parties” which included weddings in banquet halls or hotels for 30 days.

The Kingdom also halted “all entertainment activities” including cinemas and gaming parlours, all dine-in services in all restaurants and cafes suspended for 10 days, it gave a warning that the suspension could be extended, the Interior Minister's statement published by Saudi's press agency read.

The measures will be implemented from 10.00 pm Thursday (1900 GMT). The ministry said it was for “preventing the outbreak of a second wave” of the pandemic.

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On Sunday, the Health Minister, Tawfiq al-Rabiah in an announcement warned that new coronavirus restrictions could be imposed if citizens and residents do not comply with health restrictions.

On Wednesday, the Arab country suspended entry from 20 countries, ranging from some neighbouring countries to the United States, in a bid to curb the surge of the infections.

Saudi Arabia has reported nearly 369,000 coronavirus cases and almost 6,400 deaths which is the highest among the Gulf states.

In early January, the Kingdom recorded below 100 of the infection, from a peak of nearly 5000 last June.

However, the daily infection record has tripled since then, recording 306 cases on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia launched its coronavirus vaccination campaign on December 17 following the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to the Kingdom.

The Health Minister disclosed that the programme would be rolled out in three phases, mentioning the people over 65 and the patients with chronic ailments, or those at high risk of infection.

Last month, the ministry said it was forced to slow down the rollout as a result of the delay in vaccine deliveries.