Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, Jan 11:  Since the start of the year, Saudi Arabia has fined more than 300 businesses for breaking rules aimed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The fines imposed were mainly for the failure to maintain social distancing and non-usage of face masks, the ministry of commerce said.

Between December 31 and January 7, more than 3,000 inspections were carried out at markets, centers, shops and outlets across the Kingdom. 306 immediate violations were issued mainly for breaking social distancing rules and lacks face masks, the ministry said.

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The ministry further said that it is committed to ensuring the guidelines are adhered and stressed the importance of measuring the temperature of employees and customers at the entrance of malls and shopping centres, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The shops which failed to apply precautionary measures would be fined SR10,000 ($2,665) and the penalty would double and the business forced to close for the repeated violation, the ministry asserted. It added that a fine of SR5,000 ($1,333) will be imposed on customers and employees face a fine of SR5,000 if they exceed the maximum number of people permitted in one establishment.