First group of quarantined Saudis leave for home

Cairo: The Saudi Health Ministry has announced that the first group of citizens, quarantined as a precaution against the novel coronavirus, left for home. Saudi Arabia has tightened restrictions against the virus spread in the kingdom where eight deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded amid a total of 1,299 infection cases.

A video released by the ministry shows health workers in the quarantine site in the Saudi city of Jeddah bidding farewell to the departing people, scattering roses on them and giving them flowers and gifts.

Those people had been placed for two weeks under quarantine after their arrival in the kingdom from countries hit by the virus.

The total number of the quarantined arrivals were 300 Saudis who were taken care of inside a five-star hotel in the Red Sea city, according to Saudi media.

In an effort to stop the spread of the highly contagious virus, Saudi authorities have taken over recent weeks a series of measures. They include suspending international and domestic flights as well as Umrah trips to Mecca and Medina. The kingdom last week started enforcing a nighttime nationwide curfew.