COVID-19: Social distancing violations exposed in Jeddah

Cairo: Saudi police have booked a number workers for health violations in the port city of Jeddah related to failure to observing social distancing and wearing face masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus, local media reported today.

The police had carried out a series of raids at marketplaces in the centre of Jeddah to ensure compliance with a ban on large gatherings and the mandatory wearing of face masks.

Violators were booked for ignoring social distancing rules as workers were spotted packed into vehicles and failing to wear masks.

In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has relaxed several virus-related restrictions, but authorities have repeatedly called for compliance with health precautions including a ban on mass gatherings. The kingdom has recently seen a significant decline in daily infection rates of COVID-19.