Saudi Arabia to lift Covid precautions on indoor dining and gyms

Social gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 20 people but the suspension of indoor dining and entertainment will not be extended

A man in Saudi Arabia receives a dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 at a drive through centre in the kingdom. The drive-through centres are open centres in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Abha. AGP

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior announced it will not extend Covid-19 precautionary measures from Sunday.
Precautionary measures put into effect on February 3 in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus were extended on February 14 for 20 days.
The ministry stated that it will not again extend the suspension of indoor dining at restaurants or entertainment activities – including cinemas, sports venues and gyms.

“The return of activities comes after reassuring indications about developments in the epidemic curve,” the ministry said on Friday.

Social gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 20 people. Large public gatherings, weddings and events in banquet halls or hotels will remain suspended.

The ministry said municipal officials will continue to monitor and carry out inspections to ensure all establishments adhere to health and safety protocols.

The Saudi Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing recorded 1,226 breaches of protocol and shut down 366 establishments over the past month.

On Thursday, Jeddah Health Affairs inaugurated a vaccination programme for home healthcare patients in Jeddah.
The programme will cater to adults who require home healthcare and adults who share a residence with these patients.

The kingdom recorded 384 new coronavirus cases and five deaths on Friday, bringing the total to 379,092 cases and 6,519 deaths, with 369,922 recoveries to date.