Saudi Arabia partially lifts coronavirus curfew

Businesses in Saudi Arabia will re-open as the government has begun to loosen its coronavirus-induced curfew.

Saudi King Salman who imposed the curfew last month to curb the spread of coronavirus, has ordered that the curfew be partially lifted starting from today until May 13.

The new directive will allow people to go out from 9 am (0600 GMT) until 5 pm.

However, the holy city of Mecca is still under a 24-hour curfew.

In his decree, the monarch also allowed some businesses, including shopping centres, retail and wholesale stores, and factories to reopen for two weeks, beginning next Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia has since suspended congregational prayers in and halted the 2020 pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina as part of strict measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The country has reported so far a total of 1,699 virus cases and 136 deaths.