Cairo: Authorities in the Saudi port city of Jeddah have shut down a shopping centre for failing to abide by rules in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, local media reported.
The violating mall was closed in Jeddah’s district of Al Zahra during inspection tours by municipal authorities to verify businesses’ compliance with the anti-virus regulations.
Rules oblige shopping centres to take the temperatures of their shoppers and employees as well as making sterilisers, face masks and gloves available, ensuring observance of social distancing, and posting liaison officers to regulate shoppers.
Inspection campaigns
They also include placing distancing signs on floors in front of stores and intensifying disinfection of frequently touched places such as door handles, escalators and elevators as well as posting awareness signs about precautions.
In recent months, Saudi authorities have stepped up inspection campaigns of different facilities nationwide to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The kingdom so far has reported a tally of 384,271 virus cases and 6,596 fatalities.
