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Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reimposes restrictions, curfew in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia will temporarily reimpose some restrictions in the city of Jeddah starting from June 6 until June 20 as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing the Ministry of Interior as saying.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.This comes after the Ministry of Health noticed a spike in the number of cases reported in the area, according to SPA.The new measures include restricting movement in all areas of the city from 3 p.m. to 6 a.m., halting all workplace attendance for employees in both the private and public sector, and prohibiting dining in all restaurants and cafes, SPA reported.Gatherings of more than five people will also be banned, and prayers at local mosques will be suspended.However, the interior ministry said that all domestic travel through air and land will be allowed, and entry into and out of the city will not be restricted outside the curfew hours.Read more:Coronavirus: Over 85,000 Saudi Arabian citizens want to return to the KingdomCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends prayers in Jeddah mosquesAll essential workers and groups who were previously exempt from restrictions will also be exempt from the new measures given that they continue to adhere to precautionary rules and procedures.An official from the interior ministry added that the number of cases in the capital Riyadh will also be monitored in the upcoming days to determine whether strict measures must be imposed, according to SPA.However, as of now all other cities and provinces will not have restrictions reimposed, but if the situations worsens in any city or province, the ministry will be updating its rules in that area.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reimposes restrictions, curfew in Jeddah

Coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia top 95,000 as death toll rises to 642

Saudi Arabia reported 2,591 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 31 virus-related deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to 95,748 and the COVID-19 death toll to 642, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page. The highest number of cases was recorded in the capital Riyadh, where 719 infections were detected.An official from the Ministry of Interior earlier on Friday said that the health ministry would be monitoring the number of reported cases in the city in the upcoming days to determine whether strict measures need to be reimposed in the area.Also read: Coronavirus: Over 85,000 Saudi Arabian citizens want to return to the KingdomThe city of Jeddah recorded the second highest number of cases, and due to the spike in coronavirus infections the interior ministry reimposed several preventative measures.This includes enforcing a curfew from the hours of 3 p.m. to 6 a.m. and suspending all prayers at mosques starting from June 6 until June 20.Meanwhile, a total of 1,651 people have recovered from the virus in Saudi Arabia in the last 24 hours, which brings the total number of recoveries in the country to 70,616.Currently, only 1,412 cases are critical in the Kingdom, according to the health ministry.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reimposes restrictions, curfew in JeddahCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends prayers in Jeddah mosques
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia top 95,000 as death toll rises to 642

Intel: Key Republican questions Pentagon’s proposed military training program

The Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is pushing back on a Pentagon proposal to train foreign military officers from the Middle East and elsewhere, arguing that it unnecessarily replicates an existing program run by the State Department.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: Key Republican questions Pentagon’s proposed military training program