Not all movements are curbed: Saudi Arabia lets in almost 28,000 livestock from three countries

Saudi Arabia may have imposed a strict restriction of movement of citizens and residents in the country as part of efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus but it continues to let in essential imports.

State news agency SPA reported on Apr 7 that the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said it had let in 27,827 heads of livestock from Romania, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

SPA said the sheep, cows and camels are part of the authority’s efforts to support the local market and to maintain price stability.

The agency said more than 76,000 heads of livestock were approved in the week prior to Apr 7, from five countries.

The imports also arrive around two weeks ahead of the start of the holy month of Ramadan. 

Saudi authorities started implementing precautionary measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in late February when it halted all umrah pilgrims from entering the country. Most recently on Apr 11 the government indefinitely extended curfews, from 3pm to 6am, across the country.

The Kingdom reported 382 new cases on Apr 11, taking the total tally to 4,033. 3,261 are diagnosed as “active” while 720 have recovered, according to state news agency SPA. There have been 52 deaths from the COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia as at Apr 11.  

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