Ban on Umrah to stay as Saudi Arabia lifts curfew
June 21, 2020 12:25 PM
Saudi Arabia lifted curfew across the country starting Sunday morning (June 21), the Interior Ministry announced.
The curfew lifted across the country, including in the cities of Makkah and Jeddah where residents are currently only allowed to leave their homes for necessities.
Umrah pilgrimage and international flights will remain suspended until further notice, the interior ministry said, adding that land and sea borders will also remain closed.
All economic and commercial activities will be allowed to operate on the condition that they strictly adhere to precautionary measures, the ministry said.
Separately, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs said men's barbershops and women's beauty salons have also been allowed to function from Sunday.
The ministry called on all citizens and residents to download “Tabaud” and "Tawakkalna” apps to receive the latest health instructions about coronavirus.
The ministry also stressed that social distancing measures must be strictly obeyed. Gatherings of more than 50 people are strictly prohibited, the ministry added.
Individuals must also wear a mask at all times when they are out in public. Those violating any of the preventative measures will be penalized, the ministry warned.
According to Sky News Arabia, the ministry said the suspension of Umrah that was introduced in March due to the coronavirus outbreak will continue. The Umrah situation will be regularly reviewed as per the health information regarding the pandemic, it added.
Saudi Arabia has reported more than 154,000 coronavirus cases and 1,230 deaths from the disease.