Twenty-nine shopping malls across Asir region in the Kingdom's southwest have been blocked for breaching precautionary measures to stem the spread of coronavirus, local media reports said on Monday.
Action initiated by teams from the Municipality of Asir after they detected the violations; during a campaign to ensure strict adherence to the protocols, Asir Mayor Dr. Walid Al-Hamidi said.
As per Saudi protocols, businesses are necessary to adhere to precautionary measures; which include providing their staff with disinfectants and sanitizers. Besides, taking the temperatures of both staff and customers at the entrances of shopping malls. Other measures include sterilizing shopping trolleys and baskets after each use; sanitizing facilities and surfaces; in addition to closing children's play areas and fitting rooms in shopping malls and ready-wear outlets, Mayor Dr. Al-Hamidi said.
He said any gathering of shoppers or workers in or outside a shopping mall; exceeding the numbers stipulated in the precautionary and preventive measures, attracts a penalty of SR5,000 for each extra person, but not exceeding SR100,000.