Saudi Arabia records 7 more coronavirus deaths and hundreds more cases

A Saudi man walks past a poster depicting Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia March 25, 2020. (Reuters)
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Updated 12 April 2020
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Saudi Arabia records 7 more coronavirus deaths and hundreds more cases

  • The tally of COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom has reached 4,462, with 59 deaths

RIYADH/JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's health ministry has announced 429 new coronavirus cases and seven more deaths during a press conference on Sunday. 

The tally of COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom has reached 4,462, with 59 deaths, the ministry said.

Dr. Mohammed Abdl Al-Aly, ministry spokesman, said there are currently 3,642 active cases with 65 cases in critical care, and there had been 41 new recoveries, taking the total number of recoveries to 761.

Of the seven new deaths, one was a 90-year-old male in Al-Hofuf and a 53-year-old male in Makkah. Both are Saudis and had prior health conditions.

The remaining five were residents aged between 38 and 63. They lived in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. Most of the five also had prior health conditions.

Riyadh has the highest number of confirmed cases at 198, Makkah has 103, Madinah has 73 and there are 19 confirmed cases in Jeddah. 

The ministry announced there were more than 40,000 people in self-isolation, monitored by health officials from the start of the outbreak.

There are currently 7,000 people in accommodation set aside by the Ministry of Tourism for the duration of their isolation period, and 2,000 of these are Saudis who have returned to the Kingdom from overseas.

The spokesman said that 95 percent had been cleared after finishing their required 14-day quarantine as laboratory tests confirmed their lack of infection, and just 5 percent had been confirmed.

Al-Aly emphasized the importance of self-checking, as early detection was key to decreasing the spread of the virus. 

The ministry highlighted Saudi Arabia is among the best globally in carrying out diagnostic examinations for COVID-19.

The ministry is advising people to get their information from official sources and has a dedicated web page for updates about disease numbers in the Kingdom (covid19.moh.gov.sa).

The 937 number provides medical consultations, referrals and treatment requests 24 hours a day throughout the week.


US Congress honors Muslim World League chief for efforts to combat hate

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US Congress honors Muslim World League chief for efforts to combat hate

WASHINGTON: Members of the US Congress from both the Republican and Democratic parties have honored the secretary-general of the Muslim World League in recognition of the organization’s efforts to combat hate and promote coexistence among religious communities.

The honor was presented to Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., where members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate signed a certificate commending the MWL’s role in strengthening social cohesion and supporting initiatives aimed at reducing conflict and division in diverse societies.

The certificate highlighted the league’s international efforts to counter racist attitudes and hate-driven narratives that threaten the security and dignity of people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.

Leaders from the Muslim community who attended the ceremony described the recognition as an honor for the wider Muslim community in the US, noting that it marked a first-of-its-kind event at the Capitol.

Commenting on the honor, Al-Issa said the efforts being recognized reflected Islamic values that call for global peace and harmony within societies.

He reaffirmed the MWL’s commitment to promoting constructive dialogue and cooperation to foster greater understanding and awareness.

He added that embracing diversity and engaging with differences through reasoned and civilized dialogue, rather than conflict, remained central to the league’s work in addressing global challenges related to intolerance and division.