The interior ministry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced a series of measures that will be activated to end the nationwide coronavirus curfew lockdown in the country.

The country announced on Tuesday that it will end its nationwide coronavirus curfew from June 21, except in the holy city of Mecca.

Naija News understands the decision is coming after more than two months of stringent restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the country’s interior ministry quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency, prayers will be allowed to resume in all mosques outside Mecca from May 31.

The ministry said it will begin easing restrictions in a phased manner this week, with the curfew relaxed between 6 am and 3 pm between Thursday and Saturday.

From Sunday until June 20, the curfew will be further eased until 8 pm, the ministry added.

The kingdom will lift the lockdown entirely from June 21.

“Starting from Thursday, the kingdom will enter a new phase (in dealing with the pandemic) and will gradually return to normal based on the rules of social distancing,” Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said on Monday.

In March, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage over fears of the disease spreading in Islam’s holiest cities.

That suspension will remain in place, the interior ministry said.

Authorities are yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year’s hajj – scheduled for late July – but they have urged Muslims to temporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia has reported around 75,000 coronavirus infections and some 400 deaths from COVID-19.