Saudi arrested over COVID-19 medication claim

Cairo: Saudi police arrested a citizen who claimed to have developed a medication treating COVID-19 and touted it for money, a security official has said, as authorities have tightened measures to curb the spread of the disease.

The offender was identified as a Saudi man in his thirties in the region of Al Qassim in central Saudi Arabia, spokesman for the region’s police Lt.Col. Badr Al Suhaibani added, according to the Saudi news agency SPA.

The man was arrested after reports circulated on social media about his claim and his promotion of the alleged medication in return for money, the official said.

“This is considered a violation of the preventive measures in place to confront the novel coronavirus,” Lt. Col. Al Suhaibani added.

The violator has been referred to prosecution while kept in custody.

Flight ban

In December, Saudi Arabia launched massive vaccinations against COVID-19, with the jabs offered for free.

The kingdom has recently imposed a set of restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19. They include a temporary ban on flights from 20 countries.

The kingdom’s health authorities so far have confirmed a tally of 371,720 coronavirus cases and 6,420 related fatalities.