Saudi Arabia: Up to 100,000 riyal fine for violating COVID-19 rules

Cairo: Saudi authorities have warned that infringing rules, including observing social distancing, to limit the spread of the COVID-19 is punishable by heavy fines as the kingdom has seen a steady drop in infection rates in recent months.

The Interior Ministry said that failing to heed social distancing and get temperatures checked on entering government and private offices violates health precautions and is a punishable offence. Such infringements are punished by a fine of 1,000 riyals per person, with the fine doubled to reach 100,000 riyals on repetition.

As of August 1, Saudi Arabia limits access to government and private offices, malls, educational institutions, cultural, entertainment and sports events as well as public transport to vaccinated people.

The kingdom so far has registered a total of 546,251 coronavirus cases and 8,640 related deaths amid a fast-paced vaccination campaign against the highly contagious disease.