Saudi Arabia reports new cases of coronavirus bringing total to 171

Saudi Arabia closed malls and restaurants as well as shops, coffee shops, parks and gardens. (AFP)
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Updated 17 March 2020
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Saudi Arabia reports new cases of coronavirus bringing total to 171

  • The latest cases include a Saudi in the Eastern Province
  • Europeans and North Africans have also been infected

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced 38 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday as the total number infected rose to 171.

It follows 15 cases being announced on Monday.

The new cases on Monday included a two women in the Eastern Province: one Saudi and the other Spanish, who are both in quarantine in health facilities in Qatif and Dhahran respectively.

Two male Moroccans are also now in isolation at a health facility in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

In Jeddah 5 cases have been reported with national from Britain, France, Switzerland, Jordan and Afghanistan. All are under quarantine at health facilities in the Red Sea city.

Two citizens from Turkey and Egypt have also tested positive for the virus in Makkah.

Six individuals have so far recovered from the virus with the rest in isolation.

On Sunday, The Kingdom temporarily suspended government work and ordered public-sector workers to stay home for 16 days. Malls and restaurants as well as shops, coffee shops,  parks and gardens were also ordered shut.


Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations

Updated 56 min 13 sec ago
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Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations

  • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs meeting and briefs ministers on his recent meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
  • Cooperative efforts includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air transport

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reviewed a number of domestic and international matters during a session in Jeddah on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included discussions about regional security and stability, the latest developments in the Middle East, and other topics of importance to the Arab and Islamic world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He also shared with ministers the contents of a letter he received from the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The council discussed progress in cooperative efforts involving Saudi Arabia and other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Cuba and Kiribati, and approved a number of memorandums of understanding.

The cooperation includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air-transport services, the press agency said. Ministers also approved an agreement between the Saudi General Authority for Awqaf and its Omani counterpart relating to endowments.

They reviewed national initiatives, including one for the promotion of charitable work, and the enhancement of humanitarian and developmental efforts across the country.

A merger of the National Competitiveness Center with the Saudi Center for Economic Business to create a combined Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center was authorized.