COVID-19: Saudi authorities shut down 190 businesses for violating health protocols
Closures, which include 59 workshops, come after authorities intensified inspections
Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Municipality has shut down 190 stores, including 59 workshops, for violating COVID-19 health protocols, local media reported.
The Undersecretary for Sub-Municipalities, Engineer Mohammad bin Ibrahim Al Zahrani, said inspection visits were intensified to verify the businesses’ compliance with health and municipal requirements, resulting in the closure of 190 businesses.
As per the newly-revised Saudi protocols, businesses are required to adhere to precautionary measures which include providing their staff with disinfectants and sanitisers, taking the temperatures of both staff and customers at the entrances of shopping malls.
Other measures include sterilising shopping trolleys and baskets after each use, sanitising facilities and surfaces, closing children’s play areas and fitting rooms in shopping malls and ready-wear outlets.
Any gathering of shoppers or workers inside or outside a shopping mall in a way that exceeds the numbers stipulated in the precautionary measures and preventive measures, will attract a penalty of 5,000 riyals for each person exceeding the stipulated numbers, but not exceeding 100,000 riyals.