Abu Dhabi: More than 27,300 people were booked for failing to abide by the preventive protocols against COVID-19 across Saudi Arabia in a week, amid concerns over spike in infections, the Ministry of Interior said.
The statistics for April 11 to 17 showed that Riyadh topped the list of violations with 9,471, followed by Mecca with 5,756, then Al Sharqiya 3,589, Al Qassim with 1,969, and Medina 1,690 violations.
The maximum permissible limit in family and non-family gatherings, inside homes, rest houses or farms, or in social events such as funerals, parties, and the like, is 50 people. The penalty for non-compliance by private sector businesses with the precautionary and preventive protocols is SR10,000.
The Ministry of Interior stressed that citizens and residents must continue to adhere to the preventive measures and abide by the instructions issued by the authorities in this regard.
The ministry warned any foreigners residing in the Kingdom who are found to have broken any of the COVID-19 rules will be deported and blacklisted from returning.
The strict guidelines on social distancing rules include forbidding any gathering in public spaces, shopping malls and shops.
Offenders risk fines of 5,000 riyals ($1,330), with re-offending accruing a penalty of double this amount.
Re-offending also carries the risk of prosecution by the authorities, the broadcaster added: “If a violator is a resident of Saudi Arabia, he will be deported from the kingdom, and will be forever forbidden from re-entering it after his punishment is carried out.”
The ministry of the interior said: “In case a private sector establishment repeated the violation for the first time, it will be shut down for three months. If the violation was repeated for a second time, the establishment will be shut down for six months.”
If a violator is a resident of Saudi Arabia, he will be deported from the kingdom, and will be forever forbidden from re-entering it.”
Saudi Arabia recorded 916 new COVID-19 cases and 13 more virus-related deaths on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 404,970 and the virus-related fatalities to 6,823, since the pandemic began early last year.
