Cairo: Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz has urged people to observe measures in place to combat the new coronavirus, saying they aim at preserving their health.
“The world of which we are part, is facing an unprecedented health and economic pandemic, which has prompted urgent solutions,” he said in a statement on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.
“I highly appreciate your spending of Eid at home, committed with all awareness and responsibility to measures of social distancing and compensating for face-to-face meetings and exchange of greetings with keeping in touch through remote communication and correspondences,” he added, addressing the public.
“Safety requires the entire society to understand this special circumstance that prevents Muslims from going out to perform the Eid prayer and exchange of visits, renewing emphasis that the safety and health of the citizen and the expatriate are our top priorities,” he added in the statement read out by Acting Information Minister Majed Bin Abdullah.
The monarch also praised health workers and security personnel in the kingdom for their efforts to contain the virus.
“These efforts have helped, thanks to Allah, reach results that nurture hope and spread optimism. Infected citizens and expatriates have been treated. Quarantines have been made available. All precautionary measures have been taken, although some of which could be painful, but are necessary for the sake of man,” he said.
Saudi Arabia is enforcing a round-the-clock nationwide curfew until Wednesday, the latest effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
