An official source in the Ministry of Interior said that the ministry has modified the regulations to limit gatherings and the classification schedule has been updated to include a number of other violations of precautionary and preventive measures, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The modifications and the updated classifications are in addition to the penalties already announced on May 6, 2020 regarding the regulation to limit gatherings that contribute to the spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus and its attached schedule of violations classification. The regulations have been modified and the classification schedule has been updated to include a number of other violations of precautionary and preventive measures, in addition to the penalties, according to the following: First: Amending the maximum allowed number in family and non-family gatherings inside homes, rest houses, farms, or in social events such as A'azza (mourning/ wake), parties, and so on to 50 people. Second: Determining the penalty for non-compliance by private sector establishments with the precautionary and preventive measures (protocols) announced on May 29, 2020 at an amount of SR10,000, and this includes the entry of those who do not wear the medical or fabric mask or whatever covers the nose and mouth; providing disinfectants and sterilizers in the places designated for them; checking temperature of employees and customers at the entrances to malls; disinfection of carts and shopping baskets after each use; disinfection of facilities and surfaces, the closure of children's game areas and trial room to try on clothing and the like; this is in accordance with the cases stipulated in those preventive procedures and measures (protocols), and the penalty shall be doubled in the event of repeat offense as shown in the schedule of violations of the precautionary and preventive measures. Third: Determining the penalty for intentionally violating the precautionary and preventive measures (protocols) announced on May 29, 2020 at SR1,000, and this includes not using medical or cloth masks or whatever covers the nose and mouth, or not committing to the spaces of social distancing; refusing to check temperature when entering public or private sectors; failure to adhere to the procedures adopted when the temperature is higher than 38°C., as in the cases stipulated in those procedures and measures (protocols) and the penalty shall be doubled in case of repeating the offense. The source explained that the penalties aim to impose social distancing and organize human gatherings that are a direct cause of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in order to prevent the virus from spreading. The source stressed the importance for everyone and entities to strictly adhere to the approved instructions related to the requirements of health safety and the rules of social distancing as well as to prevent gatherings in all their forms and manifestations. — SPA
