• It is prohibited to enter and leave Riyadh, Makkah and Madinah
• Curfew hours could be lengthened, based on health authorities’ advisories

Arab News

DUBAI: Saudi King Salman on Wednesday approved additional precautionary measures to limit the spread of coronavirus in the Kingdom, including the imposition of tighten travel restrictions particularly in three major cities.

“Residents of the thirteen regions of the Kingdom are prohibited from leaving or moving to another region,” state news agency SPA reported.

“It is prohibited to enter and leave the following cities [of Riyadh, Makkah and Madinah] according to the limits set by the concerned authority,” it added.

The travel restrictions will be effective starting 3:00p.m. on Thursday, and would be in effect until the end of curfew specified in an earlier royal order. The royal order also issued longer curfew hours in the said three cities, which will now start at 3:00 p.m., while officials of other cities, governorates and regions could lengthen or impose whole-day curfews based on the advisory of health authorities.

“The prohibition of movement does not include groups previously excepted from the curfew, taking into consideration that the exception shall be in the narrowest scope and in accordance with procedures and controls set by the concerned authority,” SPA reported.