Lessons Learned from the Covid-19 Pandemic to Raise the Quality of Residential Neighbourhoods: The Saudi Context

ABSTRACT

Saudi Arabia was one of the countries that undertook early precautionary measures from March 8 to June 21, 2020, to avoid the spread of Covid-19. These measures consisted of partial lockdowns and isolating some neighbourhoods from the rest of the city. The precautionary procedures impacted the isolated residents' ability to meet their needs and conduct their daily activities, but the greatest impact appeared in low-density neighbourhoods that do not have full services. This paper proposes a set of recommendations and practical procedures to improve the quality of residential neighbourhoods and avoid negative effects as a result of a partial or total lockdown in the future. The steps involved in the study include the following identify precautionary procedures;monitor and analyse the reactions resulting from their application;and identify the shortcomings that cause the negative effects and inability to meet the needs of the population. Based on the findings, this paper outlines recommendations for a set of procedures that would improve the quality of residential neighbourhoods and avoid negative effects should future precautionary measures be required. © 2022. Scientific Journal of King Faisal University Basic and Applied Sciences. All Rights Reserved.