With more than 21,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 150 deaths from the virus, the stringent measures taken by the Saudi Arabian government to curb the spread of the virus have paid off. For over a month, a majority of the country has followed a strict curfew — my mom and I live in Dhahran, on the Persian Gulf, and go for a walk every afternoon, only to be sure to return home before 7:00 p.m.
Such restrictions have only escalated with time; three weeks ago, the government imposed a complete lockdown for many cities, including Dhahran. Currently, we are only allowed to leave the house in the case of an emergency or in order to stock up on essential goods — but even this is difficult. A trip to the grocery store entails calling hours, or even days, beforehand to book an appointment.
I have found myself annoyed by the inconveniences of these strict measures and the changes to my daily routine. However, I understand that the actions taken by the Saudi government have been necessary in order to mitigate the pandemic. Countries that were slow to impose lockdowns and order testing kits — such as the U.S. and the U.K. — are now receiving international condemnation and experiencing exceptionally high death tolls.
On the other hand, the Saudi Arabian government took swift action to prevent widespread infection even when cases were few and scattered throughout the country. To remain in communication with the population through these tough times, the Ministry of Health sends
advisories to every Saudi phone. This week, I received this one: “Cases of the coronavirus are rapidly multiplying. If you don’t stay home, you and your loved ones will be at risk. #WeAreAllResponsible.”
Additionally, 150 teams from the Ministry of Health have been regularly visiting communities and residential buildings, cautiously testing citizens for the virus.
For Saudi residents, the coronavirus has brought overwhelming changes to the month of Ramadan. Typically, Ramadan is the most festive time of the year in Saudi. Stores close during the day while people are resting, fasting, and praying, but right before sunset, everything opens. Every table at every restaurant is filled with families, friends, and loved ones who have gathered to break their fast. Later, with full stomachs, people flock to the mosques to partake in special evening prayers. Late into the night, families shop at the mall or host big celebrations.
Despite not being able to enjoy a typical Ramadan, Saudi residents remain full of hope. Ramadan not only serves as a time for celebration, but also a collective time for Muslims to pray, read the Quran, and gain nearness to God. Fortunately, the current pandemic has not prevented the latter. Amid the chaos, families in Saudi have discovered that religion is the one thing that has remained unchanged, the one thing they can always rely on to bring people together.
