Ministry of Interior imposes more penalties on COVID-19 precautionary measure violations

With reference to the previous announcement, dated Ramadan 14, 1441 AH as regards the adoption of the regulations on limiting the gatherings that contribute to the spread of COVID-19 and the amendment to the regulations and list of violations, the Ministry of Interior amended the list of penalties related to the violations of COVID-19 precautionary and preventive measures, an official source at the ministry said.

The additional violations include the following:

a) Any person charged with the gathering and the owner of the establishment will be penalized as follows:

1) SAR 100,000 for family gathering at homes, rest houses, farms, etc., with numbers exceeding the limit set by the jurisdiction for a single or specific place, and who are not bound by a single residential relationship.

2) SAR 15,000 for non-family gathering inside homes, rest houses, farms, camps, chalets, or open areas, for people of one neighborhood, with numbers exceeding the limit specified for one or specific place.

3) SAR 40,000 for gatherings held for social purposes such as funerals, parties, etc., with numbers exceeding the limit specified by competent authorities.

4) SAR 50,000 for any gathering of workers at homes, buildings under construction, rest houses, farms, or any places other than their homes, with at least five persons at one place, and they are not bound by one residential relationship.

b) Establishments:

The violations related to the failure of private establishment to comply with the precautionary and preventive measures include the following: Inviting people and holding gatherings; failure to verify the health status of individuals through the applications designated for this purpose; allowing confirmed cases to enter the establishments; failure of the establishment to comply with the approved protocols by not conducting the required checks for its workers; allowing those who don’t wear a mask to enter.

1) The penalty for the establishment and the person responsible for it will be according to its size and number of its employees, as follows:

- Micro establishment with number of employees ranging from one to five will be fined SAR 10,000, and the establishment will be closed for five days.

- Small establishment with number of employees ranging from 6 to 49 will be fined SAR 20,000, and the establishment will be closed for five days.

- Medium establishment with number of employees ranging from 50 - 249 will be fined SAR 50,000, and the establishment will be closed for five days.

- Large establishment with number of employees of at least 250 will be fined SAR 100,000, and the establishment will be closed for five days.

2) The imposed penalty will be doubled to SAR 200,000 in case of repeat violations, and closures will continue for a maximum of six months.

3) A fine will be imposed on the person in charge of the establishment, as per the establishment size. The fine will be doubled to SAR 100,000 in case of repeat violations.

4) The person in charge of the establishment will be referred to the Public Prosecution for possible imprisonment when the violation is repeated for the second time.

5) Restaurants, cafes and the equivalent entities will be exempted from the abovementioned closures. These facilities will be closed for 24 hours in the first time, 48 hours in the second time, one week in the third time, two weeks in the fourth time and one month in the fifth time.

C) Individuals:

1) A fine of SAR 1,000 will be imposed on individual violators. The fine will be doubled to SAR 100,000 in case of repeat violations.

2) A fine of SAR 1,000 will be imposed on individuals who come to pray without a permission.

3) A fine of SAR 5,000 will be imposed on individuals who attend the abovementioned gatherings.

The fine will be doubled to SAR 100,000 upon repeat violations. The violator will be referred to the Public Prosecution for possible imprisonment when the violation is repeated for the second time.

4) A fine of SAR 10,000 will be imposed on persons who invite for these gatherings.