Covid-19 TImeline

I can't even attempt to catch up at this point, considering my last post was over a year ago. However, it seems appropriate to try and document some of our experiences related to the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has affected our life in Saudi. My awesome friend, Ashley, compiled a timeline of pertinent dates...this might not interest anyone but I want to have a record of this!

February 24 - First confirmed case in neighboring Bahrain

February 27 - Foreign pilgrims barred from visiting Mecca and Medina

March 2 - First confirmed case in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia limits entry to people who have visited certain countries in the past 14 days

March 3 - Saudi Arabia restricts entry for GCC citizens

March 5 - Stake Conference broadcast to branches and wards (instead of in person in Bahrain)

March 7 - Saudi Arabia banned crossing any borders by land and limited its access points by air to 3 airports

March 8 - List of countries with travel restrictions expanded, Qatif on lockdown, All self directed groups using recreation facilities are cancelled, At 9:45 pm Saudi announces all schools closed until further notice.

March 9 - List of countries with travel restrictions expanded, Air travel is severely limited, SAES schools hold last day of classes

March 10 - First day of virtual school for Dhahran High School (ISG)

March 11 - Most indoor recreational facilities closed, Church announces General Conference will be distributed via technology only, Church announces changes to missionary work

March 12 - First day of virtual school for middle school, List of countries with travel restrictions expanded, Non-urgent medical appointments cancelled

March 13 - Sacrament meeting held via Zoom, All church meetings temporarily cancelled

March 14 - Saudi Arabia announces it will suspend all international flights starting Sunday, but the directive actually takes effect immediately

March 15 - First day of virtual school for elementary, All remaining recreation facilities closed, including baseball fields and playgrounds, Only 80 people allowed in the Commissary at one time

March 16 - Only commissary, pharmacy, laundry services and coffee shops remain open on camp

March 18 - Aramco announces controlled access to residential communities, Saudi Arabia orders public sector workers to stay home for 15 days, Malls closed

March 20 - All domestic flights suspended

March 23 - 7 pm - 6 am curfew imposed, including a 10,000 sar fine and imprisonment for violations

March 25 - Church closes all temples. Some had previously been closed.

April 2 - US Consulate announces commercial repatriation flight from Dammam to Washington D.C. on April 6. Flights are $1850 one-way to get to Washington D.C. only, Global cases pass 1 million

April 6 - 24-hour curfew announced, Can only leave for groceries and hospital from 6 am - 3 pm (in your neighborhood only), Military checkpoints set up to make sure you only shop in your neighborhood

April 8 - Grocery shopping at the commissary by appointment or delivery only

April 10 - KLM cancels June flights back to the states, No longer flying to/from Dammam

April 12 - Aramco Government Affairs secures agreement with the Dhahran police to allow DH camp residents to go to grocery stores in Doha and Dana

April 16 - Global cases exceed 2 million

April 17 - Dhahran Ward virtual sustaining meeting

April 24 - Ramadan starts

April 26 - Curfew relaxed in response to Ramadan, we are now able to go outside between 9am-5pm until May 13th. Stores/malls will get to open during this 2 week period starting April 29.