RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday reimposed mask-wearing and social distancing protocols in the kingdom in a move to curb the rapid increase in cases of Covid-19 variants.
The new decision will be effective from 7am on Dec 30, Thursday, state news agency SPA reported, quoting an official source of the Ministry of Interior.
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People will have to maintain social distancing indoors and outdoors with mandatory mask-wearing. Violators will face legal action and penalties.
On Dec 1, Saudi Arabia confirmed the first case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant that has fueled record outbreaks in many countries.
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Cases of Covid-19 have gone up 11 per cent globally in the last week, forcing countries from China to Germany and France to strike a balance between the restrictions and need to keep economies and societies open.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Omicron poses “very high” risk and could overwhelm healthcare systems.
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