Saudi Arabia closes all mosques, calls G20 leaders for a meeting

(Patria) – The Saudi Arabian government on Tuesday decided to close mosques to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which has already infected 171 people in the country. The call to prayer will instruct people to perform their prayer rituals at home.

As the chair of the Group of 20 major world economies, known as G-20, Saudi Arabia has announced a summit next week in the form of a teleconference with the aim of 'agreeing on coordinated policies to protect people and the global economy'.

Gulf countries have registered more than 1,000 cases of infection, mostly related to travel to neighboring Iran, which is the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia had previously taken drastic measures, banning foreign nationals from entering for pilgrimage, halting international flights, and closing schools.

Reuters reports that Oman, which currently records 33 cases, will close mosques, restaurants, cafes, shops, tourist attractions, shopping malls, and markets from Wednesday noon, except for small food stores and pharmacies.

Qatar, which records 442 cases of infection, is also closing all shopping malls and stores that do not sell food items.

Only two mosques will remain open for prayer, in Mecca and Medina, the holiest sites in Islam.

Most government employees, except those in the Ministry of Health, are working from home. The central bank has activated business continuity plans and work-from-home measures for financial institutions.

The United Arab Emirates has reported a total of 113 cases of infection, and Bahrain 227 and the only death in the Gulf.