By Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Police forces in Makkah region have beefed up their field security patrols in popular markets and other crowded areas to monitor violations of the precautionary and preventive measures as well as social distancing regulations to stem the spread of coronavirus. This was in implementation of a royal decree issued out of the concern for the health and safety of citizens and expatriates as well as to prevent the outbreak of the pandemic.

The Makkah region police started massive security patrols, both on foot and in vehicles, in all governorates of the region, to catch violators of the regulations, which include not wearing masks, overcrowding in markets and streets, and carrying an excess number of passengers in cars and other vehicles.

The beefed-up security measures are undertaken in the wake of a spike in coronavirus cases with the number of daily infections in the Kingdom, surpassing the 4,000-mark. Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali said on Sunday said that 90 percent of the total confirmed cases were reported in Riyadh. “The increase in the rate of infection, which had dropped to a low of one percent in May, is an indication that some citizens and residents have not been following preventative measures and avoiding large gatherings,” the spokesman said.

“We have two paths in front of us. This rate could increase, infections may rise, and its spread could rise if members of the public continue the non-compliance of the preventative measures in several places, especially in places where there are a number of people around them. The public could also take matters into their own hands and follow the preventative measures and return to normal lives with caution so that the rate of infection decreases again,” Al-Abdel Ali said.

The plan to ease restrictions in most areas in the Kingdom is being implemented as expected, according to the spokesman. However, some areas are falling behind, but are being closely monitored by authorities to determine a better-suited plan to ensure the situation does not worsen, he added.