Saudi shopping malls open only to vaccinated people

Saudi Arabia will bar people from entering its shopping malls unless they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, state TV reported on Sunday.

It said the decision announced by the Ministry of Commerce will come into effect on August 1.

"Having received at least one vaccine shot will be a condition for entering commercial facilities," the ministry said.

Saudi Arabia has administered 15.7 million vaccine doses so far, enough to have inoculated 23 per cent of the population, according to the Reuters COVID-19 tracker.