Last week Saudi Arabia placed its capital Riyadh and other big cities under a 24-hour curfew, locking down much of the population to stem the spread of the virus. The country of some 30 million has recorded 4,033 infections with 52 deaths, the highest among the six Gulf Arab states where the total count has surpassed 13,200 with 88 deaths despite strict measures to curb transmissions. Other Gulf states have taken similar precautions. Several Gulf Arab states have seen the virus spread among low-wage foreign workers, many of whom live in overcrowded accommodations. Millions of migrant workers, mainly from Asian countries, including Nepal, India and the Philippines, are among the region’s large expatriate population.

Source: bd News24 April 12, 2020 06:56 UTC