Cairo: Saudi authorities have required certain businesses to vaccinate their employees against COVID-19 as a mass inoculation campaign against the highly infectious disease has picked pace in the kingdom.
The Ministry of Municipal and Village Affairs has made it mandatory for a number of establishments to get all their workers vaccinated or undergo a weekly test for detecting the coronavirus, Saudi media reported.
The obligation will go into effect as of the 1st of the Islamic month of Shawwal, expected to begin on May 12. It applies to restaurants, coffee shops, all types of food stores, barber shops and women’s beauty centres, the media added.
Saudi Arabia initiated mass vaccinations against COVID-10 on December 17. Around 5.36 million doses have since been administered in the country. Authorities have offered the vaccination to citizens and foreign residents.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia announced that only “immunised” people against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the Umrah or minor pilgrimage and visit the Prophet’s Mosque starting from the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has defined the eligible “immunised” categories as those who have received two doses of the vaccine against COVID-19; those receiving a single dose of inoculation at least 14 days in advance; and those who have recovered from the virus infection.
