The public prosecution said it ordered the arrest of "three people who exploited social media to interpret God's will amid the #coronavirus", in a statement shared on Twitter.The prosecution said it also ordered "the arrest of a person who appeared in a video mocking the #coronacrisis and giving misleading information about the current situation".

It is unclear who the fourth arrestee could be.The Saudi public prosecution has a unit devoted to monitoring activity on social network sites, according to Erem News.Saudi Arabia, which has recorded over 1,100 cases, has taken serious measures to stem the spread of coronavirus, and appears to also be taking certain measures to control the public narrative around the outbreak.

On Wednesday, the kingdom sealed off the capital Riyadh and two of Islam's holiest cities and extended curfew hours as it reported its second death from the new coronavirus.

Authorities barred entry and exit from Riyadh as well as Mecca and Medina and prohibited movement between all provinces, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia, which has reported the highest number of infections in the Gulf, on Monday began implementing an 11-hour nationwide curfew - starting at 7 pm - to limit the spread of the deadly Covid-19 illness.

Read more: Saudi police arrest suspected coronavirus patient found 'spitting in shopping mall' amid kingdom-wide curfew



The curfew hours were brought forward to 3 pm in the three cities, SPA said citing measures approved by King Salman that will take effect from Thursday.

Authorities plan to implement the curfew for 21 days and have warned that transgressors will be fined 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,663) and could face jail for repeated breaches.

The Arab world's biggest economy has also closed down cinemas, malls and restaurants, halted flights and suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage as it steps up efforts to contain the virus.



Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected