Cairo: Saudi authorities have denied the public access to seafronts in the eastern cities of Dammam and Khobar to limit the spread of the coronavirus, a local newspaper has reported.
Security agencies in the Eastern Province Saturday evening set up checkpoints near the seafronts in both cities and closed entrances to their corniches due to visitor overcrowding, Saudi news portal Sabq reported.
Both sites saw a high turnout of weekend picnickers amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19, according to the report.
The crowding prompted local authorities to deny cars access to the place and closing nearby roads as precautionary measures, it added.
Last week, Saudi Arabia imposed a set of restrictions, as COVID-19 infections increased, including a temporary ban on flights from 20 countries.
The measures also include suspension of all events and parties such as weddings and corporate meetings for at least 30 days.
