Saudi Arabia shoppers Medina
Shoppers queue up outside a mall in the Saudi city of Medina Thursday. Image Credit: SPA

Cairo: Picnic boats in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to resume business from next week during the hours when a curfew in place due to the novel coronavirus is lifted, Saudi media reported, as the country is heading towards gradual return to normal life.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia announced a plan easing some virus-related restrictions

The Directorate of Border Guard said on its Twitter account that the picnic boats will be allowed to work starting from Sunday in compliance with the precautionary measures against COVID-19.

According to the re-operation rules, the number of passengers allowed into the 10-metre boat should not exceed two, in addition to the skipper. Passengers aged below 15 are not allowed aboard, it added.

Starting from Sunday, movement will be allowed daily from 6am (7am UAE time) until 8pm across Saudi Arabia, except in Mecca. Also, domestic air travel will resume on Sunday when all employees will return to their workplaces.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia ended a round-the-clock nationwide curfew that took effect on Saturday to stem the spread of the coronavirus. From Thursday until Saturday, movement is allowed inside and among all regions of the kingdom from 6am until 3pm, except in Mecca. Retail and wholesale shops, markets and shopping centres are allowed to operate within those hours amid strict health rules.