Observers urge caution as KSA relaxes lockdown measures
On the first day of Saudi Arabia’s three-phase plan to transition back to normality after the COVID-19 pandemic, people were quick to take advantage of the newly relaxed measures, leading to overcrowding in some areas.
Prince Abdulrahman bin Mosaad was one of many who took to social media to urge people to be careful and respect social distancing measures, saying he found it “unbelievable” that so many people were “underestimating the necessity of putting on a face mask and a pair of gloves and keeping a two-meter space between people crowding at stores,” and warning that such behavior would likely mean a full lifting of restrictions on the proposed date of June 21 would not be possible.
University lecturer, Abdulfattah Al-Qahtani (@fattah53), agreed, tweeting: “Sadly, not many understand … what they could be doing to their loved ones. It’s very simple; don’t go out unless it’s necessary.” Rayed Mustafa, 33, told Arab News: “Just because the country is opening up doesn’t mean it’s safe to go out.” However, he said he had left the house around 6:30 a.m. to go for a car ride in the hope of getting some fresh air. “I’ve been confined in a very small apartment for over a month,” he said. “I needed that change of scenery.”
But Mustafa was taken aback by the number of people he saw on the streets, even at that time of day.
“One of the main streets in Riyadh was filled to the brim — some celebrating, others going out for coffee,” he added.
By 2:30 p.m. most shops and malls were already closed, in line with the 3 p.m. curfew.
By 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, most shops and malls were already closed, in line with the 3 p.m. curfew.