DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The Arab states of the Gulf on Thursday launched new restrictions due to fears that the coronavirus will be rediscovered in their countries.
With populations, including largely young and healthy foreign workers, many Gulf countries have avoided the higher death toll seen elsewhere around the world. However, it seems that the numbers of cases have been rising since the new year, and this is causing concern, even though there are several regional countries with the highest per capita vaccination rates in the world.
In Saudi Arabia, where authorities have already banned travel to the kingdom of 20 countries, including the US, officials have also ordered that all weddings and parties be suspended. It closed all shopping malls, gyms and other places for ten days, as well as indoor eateries. Authorities have warned that the new measures could be extended.
The kingdom also ordered cemeteries to ensure that burials along the tomb had a distance of 100 meters (328 feet).
The state-run Saudi press agency blamed the new procedures for “the emergence of indicators of an increase in the epidemic curve in some regions of Saudi Arabia caused by the lax implementation of preventive and precautionary measures and approved protocols.”
Saudi Arabia saw a peak in coronavirus cases in June. The kingdom brought the daily reported numbers below 100 in early January, but according to government statistics, it reported more than 300 cases on Wednesday alone.
Overall, the kingdom reported more than 368,000 cases of COVID-19, with 6,380 deaths.
In Kuwait, authorities imposed a two-week ban on foreigners entering the country beginning Sunday. Separately, officials have ordered that most businesses start from 8pm to 5pm on Sunday for the following month. It has closed health clubs, spas and gyms, as well as banned celebrations for the upcoming National Day of 25 February.
“Non-compliance and recklessness could once again take the country to the forefront in its fight against the pandemic,” Kuwait Health Minister Dr. Basel Al Sabah, according to the state-run KUNA news agency said.
Kuwait has also seen case numbers start to decline in late November, only to start rising after the new year. The small nation reported more than 166,000 cases of the coronavirus, with 950 deaths.
Qatar also announced new restrictions on daily life on Wednesday, though not as badly as other countries. The state-run Qatar News Agency quotes the chairman of the COVID-19 task force, dr. Abdullatif al-Khal, on as a warning that a remarkable increase with an accelerated rate in the number of infections and the reproductive factor of the virus was recorded. may be an early indication of a possible second wave. ‘
In Qatar, things also started to increase after the new year. Overall, the country reported more than 152,000 cases of the virus, with 240 deaths.
Oman, which has closed its land borders since mid-January but kept flights afloat, has warned its public that business is still on the rise. Cases of people infected with coronavirus variants have also been reported.
The Omani Minister of Health, dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Saidi also said earlier this week that ‘some people are taking off their rail bracelets after arriving at the country’s border crossings and sitting on older people who do not usually leave the house. To avoid quarantine, according to the Times of Oman. The sultanate requires people to stay quarantined at home for a week after entering the country.
Oman has reported more than 134,000 cases of coronavirus, of which 1,500 deaths have been attributed to the virus.
Earlier this week, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which opened in July as an international travel destination, closed all bars and pubs for the entire month of February and restricted other activities after an increase in cases of coronavirus followed the celebration of the New Year’s Eve which gave rise to the visitors from all over the world.
Authorities in Dubai have also warned hotels and restaurants to “postpone any activity leading to large events such as a weekend brunch,” the state-run The National newspaper reported. Dubai’s overall alcohol weekend brunch with unlimited food and drink continued. at some restaurants and pubs despite the pandemic.
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