Saudi Arabia: 55 COVID-19 patients arrested for breaching quarantine

Cairo: Saudi Arabia police said they have arrested a total of 55 COVID-19 patients for violating quarantine regulations.

Saudi Arabia so far have registered a total of 417,363 coronavirus cases and 6,957 fatalities amid stepped-up efforts to curtail infections.

Twenty-seven violators, who tested positive for COVID-19, were arrested in the holy city of Medina, a spokesman for the region’s police Lt.Col. Hussain Al Qahtani said.

The twenty-eight others were arrested in the western governorates of Jeddah and Al Taif for breaching the quarantine instructions despite being infected with the coronavirus, a spokesman for the Mecca police said.

Double punishment

According to Saudi law, violations of quarantine rules are punishable by a maximum fine of SR200,000 or jailing of up to two years or both penalties. Repeat offenders face double punishment.

Saudi Arabia initiated mass vaccinations against COVID-10 on December 17. Authorities have offered the vaccination to citizens and foreign residents for free.

Around 9.3 million doses have since been administered in a vigorous inoculation campaign across the kingdom, a country of around 34.8 million population, according to the latest estimates.