Saudi Arabia can avoid another lockdown if people work together and follow the rules, the kingdom's Health Ministry said on Sunday.
Authorities said they had seen an increase in coronavirus cases and the public breaking coronavirus rules.
The kingdom registered 386 cases on Saturday, continuing a steady increase since early January. Cases peaked in June 2020.
A Health Ministry spokesman urged people to act responsibly to help "efforts of the leadership to preserve health and safety in the kingdom".
“If we adhere to procedures, the curve will flatten and then can be controlled. This is what we hope for,” he said.
The Human Resources and Social Development Ministry also called on all employees in all sectors to abide by the precautionary measures, follow health regulations and abide by social distancing rules in the workplace to limit the spread of Covid-19.
The ministry stressed the need to take the necessary measures to prevent gatherings, provide hand sanitiser at workplaces and apply social distancing by holding meetings virtually wherever possible.
The ministry also called for implementing remote working regulations and applying a flexible working hours policy.
Last week, Health Minister Dr Tawfiq Al Rabiah said that Saudi's second wave of the virus could be worse than the first if action was not taken.
Authorities will continue to arrest and fine those who violate the precautionary measures, including those who do not maintain social distance or wear a mask, a security spokesman from the health ministry said.
"Those who spread false information on social media about the coronavirus, which would cause panic, can be fined over a million riyals and imprisoned for a period of not less than a year and not more than five years," he added.
Authorities are asking people to use the Tawakkalna track and trace app when entering commercial and government buildings, maintain social distancing, not go out in groups of more than five and wear a mask at all times.
Citizens and residents may report Covid-19 violators by calling a special number. So far, the Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing group has conducted more than 14,500 monitoring rounds and closed 550 shops.
Jeddah Corniche was shut off by authorities on Friday because of overcrowding and lack of social distancing.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
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- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
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Game Changer
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Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
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THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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