Millions of Muslims are preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan with the Eid al-Fitr holiday this weekend, normally marked by public prayers in the mosque, family visits and grand communal meals.
But as cases continue to rise, Saudi Arabia has announced the whole country will remain locked down with strict curfews in place and gatherings limited to five people, according to the Ministry of Interior.
In nearby Qatar, cases have also shot up.
The gas-rich country has recorded 16 deaths and has over 30,000 active cases, officials said. All shops have been ordered to stay closed until the end of the month, except for pharmacies and grocery stores.
Residents must also wear masks when outdoors or risk fines of up to $55,000 or imprisonment of up to three years.
The chair of the Qatari National Strategy Group to fight COVID-19 blamed the rise on a "lack of commitment of many members of society to preventive measures," during a news conference on Wednesday.
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