RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday it would close cinemas until further notice over coronavirus concerns, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The Kingdom has already closed schools and restricted travel as it moves to halt the spread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the ministry of health announced the first case of a person recovering from coronavirus in the Kingdom — with the overall number of cases at 21.
The patient is one of the cases quarantined at Qatif Central Hospital and is preparing to be discharged.
The Kingdom's health ministry also called on people to avoid gatherings exceeding 50 people and to refrain from shaking hands with each other to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Lebanon said two flights have been organized in coordination with Middle East Airlines to evacuate Saudi citizens and their families who wish to leave the country.
One of the flights will leave for King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 8 a.m. on Saturday and the other will leave for King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Sunday at the same time.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic but added that it’s not too late for countries to act.
“All countries can still change the course of this pandemic. If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s chief said.
