Skip to main content

Saudi Arabia quarantines cash to prevent further coronavirus spread

Saudi Arabia will isolate coins and banknotes for up to 20 days in sealed containers.
A Saudi money exchanger wears a protective face mask and gloves as he counts Saudi riyal currency at a currency exchange shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri - RC2ZGF9MUSEW

To prevent further spread of the coronavirus, Saudi Arabia will quarantine all cash and coins from local and foreign sources for at least two weeks, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority said this week. 

“We have taken precautionary measures to isolate and sterilize both paper and metal currencies, whether coming from inside or outside the kingdom, by isolating them for a period of 14 days and up to 20 days, depending on where it has come from,” the monetary authority said in a video, according to state-owned Al Arabiya.  

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.