Saudi Arabia announced a nationwide curfew that will take place on Monday after it witnessed a spike in novel coronavirus cases as several Gulf countries took serious measures to contain the outbreak.
The curfew will last for three weeks and will being from 7pm to 6am to limit the spread of the virus as per King Salman’s instructions.
The curfew will take effect on Monday evening.
The Kingdom’s interior ministry warned that anyone who violates the curfew will be fined 10,000 riyals and in the case of repetition the amount will be doubled.
“Repeated violation may lead to a prison sentence of no more than 20 days,” the ministry said in a statement.
"Preserving public health is one of the most important duties for citizens and residents of the country," it said.
Individuals must stay at home and not expose themselves and their country to the risk of spreading the virus, said the statement.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry is using mobile clinics to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The mobile units “are supplied with advanced medicine and machinery to support the health ministry’s preventative coronavirus measures,” state news agency Saudi Press Agency said in a statement.
Official recorded cases in the Gulf have exceeded 1,700 infections and four deaths from the virus as further measures were imposed on Monday.
Saudi Arabia has the highest toll at 511 confirmed cases.
Oman said on Monday it has 66 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus as Kuwait pardoned several prisoners in response to the outbreak.
It announced 11 new cases of the virus, bringing the total to 66 on Monday, according to the state news agency.
The new cases include seven Omani nationals and several residents.
The government said 17 individuals have recovered.
The country took extreme measures to curb the virus such as banning public gatherings and shutting down currency exchange shops.
Muscat also said that government services would reduce 30 per cent of its total employees, adding that the rest will work remotely.
Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, pardoned several prisoners on Monday.
He also instructed the government to quicken the process of returning Kuwaitis who are abroad back to the country.
Sheikh Sabah told authorities to "assist them until their return."
The country has 188 cases, of which there have been no deaths and 30 recoveries.
Sheikh Sabah said it was time to expand solidarity in a bid to combat this global health crisis.
Kuwait has also imposed a nationwide curfew which started on Sunday from 5pm to 4am local time.
Those who break the curfew could face up to three years in jail and fines of KD 10,000 the interior minister confirmed.
Bahrain ordered all stores except those supplying essential goods to shut.
The country reported a second death on Sunday, a citizen evacuated from Iran, it currently as 335 reported cases.
The UAE government urged all residents to stay in their homes unless "absolutely necessary" on Monday.
The country also announced the it will close all malls and markets in the next 48 hours. Stores selling essential goods including supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open.
All inbound, outbound and transit flights to the UAE will be suspended in the next 48 hours.
