Saudi Arabia opens shopping malls, markets 24 hours a day

• Saudi Arabia has allowed shopping malls and markets to remain open 24 hours a day.
  
• The decision is taken to reduce the rush of consumers in markets amid coronavirus fears.
  
• Meanwhile, the Saudi Interior Ministry has said that Saudi citizens who have been vaccinated will be allowed to travel from May 17.
  

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have allowed shopping malls and markets to remain open 24 hours a day.

A spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Commerce said the decision was made to reduce the rush of consumers in markets. He said that action would be taken against the violation of coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (Sops)s.

Read more: Saudi Arabia will allow 'immunised' citizens to travel from May 17

Meanwhile, the Saudi Interior Ministry has said that Saudi citizens who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus will be allowed to travel from May 17.

According to the Interior Ministry, the ban on Saudi citizens traveling abroad will be lifted from 1pm on May 17.

About 419,348 people have been infected with the global coronavirus in the Gulf country so far, while 6,979 people have succumbed to the virus so far.