Saudi Arabia stops government work

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended government work and ordered public-sector workers to stay home for 16 days as the Kingdom’s latest measures against the spread of coronavirus.

Only those working in health, security and the military are exempted from the decision to stop people attending the work place.

Earlier, the Kingdom closed malls and restaurants as well as shops, coffee shops, parks and gardens. Only pharmacies and food supply activities such as supermarkets and hypermarkets would remain open, provided that they sterilize shopping carts after each use by their clients.

Among other steps taken, Saudi Arabia has requested companies to quarantine expatriate workers for 14 days following their arrival. The Kingdom also suspended the gathering people in parks and at beaches.

On Sunday the health ministry posted a video of minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah asking for the public's cooperation in four key areas to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.