Saudi Arabia to impose fines for not wearing face masks

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will impose 1,000 riyals fine for people who do not wear face masks or fail to adhere to social distancing rules.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior made the announcement on Saturday, adding that people who refuse to be checked for temperature when entering public or private sector buildings will also be fined 1,000 riyals. Business establishments that fail to provide disinfectants and sanitizers at designated slots will be slapped with a fine of 10,000 riyals.

Establishments failing to sterilise shopping carts and baskets after each use or those who do not measure the temperature of both employees and visitors at the entry points of shopping centres and malls will also face a fine of 10,000 riyals, the ministry further said. Additionally, the establishments that fail to sanitise commonly used facilities will face the same fine.

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The ministry emphasised that private sector facilities that allow people to enter their premises without wearing medical or cloth masks will face a fine of 10,000 riyals as well. It added that such such fines are aimed at making social distancing mandatory which is the leading cause of coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry urged the public to adhere to precautionary instructions, social distancing rules, and avoiding all forms of gatherings. “A maximum of 50 people will be allowed to attend family or non-family gatherings inside homes, farms, or rest areas or to be involved in social gatherings such as weddings or mourning tents,” the ministry clarified.