Covid-19 : Free treatment in Saudi Arabia, including residency violators

King Salman has announced coronavirus patients in Saudi Arabia would not be charged for treatment as the number of cases in the kingdom continues to increase, outpacing the rest of the Gulf countries.

The Saudi Ministry of Health said King Salman ordered “free treatment to all coronavirus casualties, whether citizens, residents or those who have violated residency regulations”.

بأمر #خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين

تقديم الرعاية الصحية من الدولة فيما يخص #كورونا بالمستشفيات العامة والخاصة يشمل مخالفي أنظمة الإقامة والعمل وأمن الحدود وعدم معاقبتهم بشرط الإفصاح والفحص pic.twitter.com/oSA6f3oExp

— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) March 30, 2020

Ministry spokesman Mohammed Al Abdulaali said 154 confirmed infections were recorded in Saudi Arabia in the past 24 hours, bringing the kingdom's total to 1,453.

Mr Abdulaali said 22 cases were in intensive care. There have been no deaths since four were announced on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia has tightened a curfew across the country over the past week, bringing it forward from 6pm to 3pm on Sunday.

Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah have been sealed off.

Authorities are advising citizens not to hoard food, saying supply flows are secure.

More than five million illegally stockpiled medical masks were seized in two locations in the kingdom.