Saudi Arabia will observe a countrywide 24-hour curfew lasting for all the five-day Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday later this month to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, the interior ministry said on Tuesday.

The curfew will apply from May 23-May 27 following the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan. Till then, commercial and business enterprises will remain open and people can move freely between 9 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) and 5 p.m., except in Mecca which remains under a full curfew, the statement published by state news agency SPA said.

Saudi Arabia had earlier imposed 24-hour lockdown on most towns and cities but relaxed them for the start of Ramadan.The kingdom has so far recorded 42,925 cases of the COVID-19 respiratory disease and 264 deaths.

These are the highest numbers in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, which together have recorded more than 107,000 cases and 582 deaths

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection announced that the number of cure cases in the country increased to 4804 cases, after 509 new cases of healing were recorded for people infected with the new coronavirus and recovering fully from the symptoms of the disease and receiving the necessary health care.

It also clarified that, and in line with its plan to expand and increase the scope of examinations in the country with the aim of early detection and inventory of cases infected with the emerging coronavirus (Covid 19) and those who are in contact with them and isolate them, it announced that it has conducted more than 29,000 new tests on different groups in society using the best and latest medical examination techniques.

The intensification of the investigation and examination procedures in the country and the expansion of the tests at the state level in the detection of 781 new cases of new Corona virus of different nationalities, all of which are stable and subject to the necessary health care, thus the total number of registered cases is 18,198 cases and the ministry announced 13 deaths of injured people Of different nationalities, as a result of the consequences of infection with the emerging coronavirus, especially since they were suffering from chronic diseases, bringing the number of deaths in the country to 198 cases.

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection expressed its regret and sincere condolences and condolences to the families of the deceased, and its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured, calling on community members to cooperate with health authorities, adhere to instructions and adhere to social separation to ensure the health and safety of all.