COVID-19 infection curve in ‘sensitive’ phase: Saudi Official

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Health clinics set up by the ministry as testing hubs or treatment centers have helped hundreds of thousands of people nationwide since the outbreak. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia announced four deaths from COVID-19 and 315 new infections on Sunday. (File/SPA)
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Updated 23 February 2021
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COVID-19 infection curve in ‘sensitive’ phase: Saudi Official

  • Saudi Health Ministry spokesman urges ‘great caution and vigilance’
  • A total of 6,461 people have succumbed to the virus in the Kingdom so far

JEDDAH: The infection curve of COVID-19 is passing through “a sensitive and very important phase” as Saudi Arabia witnesses an increase in the daily infection rate, a health official said on Sunday.

The phase “must be followed with greater caution and vigilance, especially with the increase in recorded cases,” said Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly. “We haven’t yet reached the stage of reassurance.”
He confirmed that vaccines are available in all regions of the Kingdom and in greater numbers.
Saudi Arabia reported four more COVID-19-related deaths on Sunday. The death toll now stands at 6,461. The ministry reported 315 new cases, meaning that 375,006 people have contracted the disease. There are 2,451 active cases, 508 of them in critical condition.
According to the ministry, 177 of the newly recorded cases were in Riyadh, 57 in the Eastern Province, 28 in Makkah and eight in Madinah. In addition, 349 patients have recovered from the disease, bringing the total to 366,094 recoveries.




Najran Gov. Prince Jalawi bin Abdul Aziz receives the first dose of coronavirus vaccine on Sunday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has so far conducted 13,332,326 polymerase chain reaction tests, with 36,218 carried out in the past 24 hours.
The ministry confirmed that health services continue through all centers and facilities. Taakad centers have carried out 7,383,372 swabs, while Tetamman clinics have served 1988,318 people.
Health and medical consultations have been provided to 27,811,408 beneficiaries through the call center 937.
Saudis and expats in the Kingdom continue to receive their vaccine doses, for which they registered through Sehhaty. The number of those who have been vaccinated has reached 541,411. The ministry is urging everyone who has not registered for a vaccine to do so in order to preserve their health and safety and that of their loved ones. The vaccine is free for all Saudis and expats.

The Kingdom vs. COVID-19
How Saudi Arabia acted swiftly and coordinated a global response to fight the coronavirus, preventing a far worse crisis at home and around the world

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Reconstituted Saudi IP authority’s board of directors approved 

Updated 26 December 2024
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Reconstituted Saudi IP authority’s board of directors approved 

  • Shihana Alazzaz, who is an adviser at the Royal Court, will continue to serve as chair

RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property’s newly-reconstituted Board of Directors was approved for a three-year term, the Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday.

In the reconstituted board, Shihana Alazzaz, who is an adviser at the Royal Court, will continue to serve as chair. She previously served as the deputy secretary-general of the Council of Ministers and was the first Saudi woman to hold the position.

The approval includes extending the membership of Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali, Eng. Osama Al-Zamil, and Dima Al-Yahya.

Badr Al-Qadi and Dr. Mohammed Al-Otaibi join the board as new members. 

Alazzaz expressed her thanks and gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous and continuous support for the authority.

She also thanked the previous board members for their efforts and wished the new members success.

The authority’s CEO Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem, said that the new formation of the board reflects the continued generous support of the leadership for the authority, wishing the Board success.


Grand Mosque authority announces free storage for Umrah performers

Updated 26 December 2024
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Grand Mosque authority announces free storage for Umrah performers

  • Storage facilities are located near the Makkah Library and Gate 64

MAKKAH: Authorities in the holy city of Makkah announced on Wednesday free luggage storage for Umrah performers.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that free storage facilities are available to the east of the Grand Mosque, near the Makkah Library, and to the west, near Gate 64.

Umrah performers must present their permits through the Nusuk app to access the facilities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Umrah performers can store bags, not loose items, weighing up to 7 kilograms for a maximum of four hours. Valuables, prohibited items, food, and medicine are not permitted. A claim ticket must be presented for retrieval.

The authority plans to extend the service to encompass all areas around the Grand Mosque to better assist visitors, the SPA added.


King Salman, Crown Prince send condolences to Azerbaijan president

Updated 26 December 2024
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King Salman, Crown Prince send condolences to Azerbaijan president

  • The King and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also extend sympathies to families of plane crash victims

RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman each sent messages of condolence and sympathy to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday, after the tragic crash of a passenger plane.

The King and the crown prince also extended their heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives onboard the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

On Wednesday morning, the passenger plane, traveling from Azerbaijan to Russia, crashed near Aktau, western Kazakhstan, with 62 passengers and five crew members on board.

Kazakh authorities announced that 28 people had survived.


KSrelief chief meets Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Updated 25 December 2024
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KSrelief chief meets Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

  • Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and Mazen Ghoneim discussed Saudi humanitarian efforts to support Palestinians in Gaza

RIYADH: The supervisor-general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, met the Palestinian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mazen Ghoneim on Wednesday in Riyadh.

Al-Rabeeah and Ghoneim discussed Saudi humanitarian efforts to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Ghoneim expressed his gratitude to KSrelief and praised its strong relationship with the Palestinian people, the SPA added.

KSrelief initiated various projects to support Palestinian hospitals and humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing Israeli war.

Earlier in December, KSrelief sent 20 fully equipped ambulances to boost the health sector in Gaza.

It also distributed aid and food parcels that benefited nearly 3,500 Palestinians, some of whom were displaced in the Gaza Strip.


Saudi-Qatari security, military committee meeting held in Riyadh

Updated 25 December 2024
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Saudi-Qatari security, military committee meeting held in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani chaired the second meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council’s Security and Military Committee in Riyadh on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas of common interest, to achieve the aspirations of the two nations’ leaders and people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Saud praised the efforts made by both sides to achieve joint initiatives.