Saudi Arabia: 20 COVID-19 patients held for flouting isolation rules

Abu Dhabi: Saudi police have arrested 20 COVID-19 patients in Medina for violating the isolation rules, said security officials, amid stepped-up efforts in the kingdom to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease.

They were remanded in custody, pending moving to the Public Prosecution for further interrogation and trial, spokesperson of the Medina Police, Lieutenant Colonel Hussain Al Qahtani, said.

Earlier this week, 373 people infected with coronavirus were also caught on the same charges.

Of the infected people, 305 were arrested in the capital Riyadh for violating the health isolation instructions and legal procedures were taken against them, spokesman for Riyadh Police, Major Khalid Al Karidis, said.

A further 68 were arrested in Mecca for infringing self-isolation instructions after they were found to have tested positive for the coronavirus, a local police official said.

According to Saudi law, violations of quarantine rules are punishable by a maximum fine of 200,000 riyals or jail of up to two years or both. Repeat offenders face double punishment.

If the violator is non-Saudi, he/she is punished by deportation from the kingdom and barred from re-entry after serving the jail term.