ARN News Centre

Saudi Arabia closes public sector offices over COVID-19 concerns

Wednesday, 18 March 2020 08:21

Saudi Arabia has suspended work at private sector offices for 15 days, in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.

That's according to the Saudi Press Agency, which added that the health and food sector will be exempt from the rule.

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development: Suspending employees' coming to main offices of private sector establishments for a period of "15" days.https://t.co/8Z0xeWSstS #SPAGOV
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) March 17, 2020

So far, the country has reported 171 positive cases of COVID-19.

More from International

Several people detained in India's Gen Z-led protests against voter roll changes

Indian police detained several people in the capital New Delhi on Saturday, disrupting a second day of protests backed by the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party and other opposition groups against changes to voter rolls.
Trump shares Republican senator's phone number in feud over time switch

US President Donald Trump shared online the supposed phone number of a Republican US senator in the first of multiple posts on Saturday in a row over making daylight saving time permanent.
Saudi Arabia says shrapnel from intercepted ballistic missile in Asir injures one

An Asian expat was injured after shrapnel from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Ahad Rafidah governorate in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia's state news agency reported.
Israeli strike kills five in Gaza, health officials say

An Israeli airstrike killed at least five Palestinians in an apartment building in Gaza City early on Saturday, health and civil defence service officials said.
Nine injured in Australia as car crashes into crowd north of Sydney

A man appeared to lose control of a car that drove into a crowd in the Australian city of Newcastle on Saturday, injuring nine, authorities said.