Saudi Arabia locks more cities 

Saudi Arabia announced late Monday that nine more cities would be added to the list of those on 24-hour lockdown, including the the capital, Riyadh, and the Red Sea port city of  Jeddah.

Previously just the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, international pilgrimage destinations that had seen large numbers of cases, were subjected to these 24-hour curfews, along with some Jeddah neighborhoods. The rest of the country just had to stay inside at night.

With 781 cases, Riyadh is home to the largest number of Saudi Arabia’s 2,605 infections — the most in the Middle East after Iran. The last few days have seen increases of around 10 percent a day in the number of afflicted. Four new deaths were also reported Monday, bringing the total to 38.

During the curfews, all residents will be confined to their homes except for trips within their neighborhoods to gather medicine or groceries between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Children are not allowed out of the house. Only those working in vital sectors will be allowed in or out of these cities.

Saudi Arabia has already closed all nonessential commercial establishments and stopped incoming and outgoing flights as well as suspended the year around pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. Officials have indicated that they will likely suspend the key hajj pilgrimage set for late July that would bring some 2 million people together.