Stricter measures are in public’s hands, say Saudi officials

Saudi Arabia administered nearly 4.9 million vaccine doses at a rate of 117,839 daily doses. (SPA)
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Updated 04 April 2021
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Stricter measures are in public’s hands, say Saudi officials

  • More than 15.2 million PCR tests have been conducted in the Kingdom since the beginning of the pandemic, 53,777 of which conducted in the past 24 hours

JEDDAH: With the sudden rise in confirmed in COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia’s Public Security Department reminded residents to remain vigilant as stricter measures rely on the public’s adherence.
In a video published on the department’s Twitter account with a hashtag “The decision is in your hands,” the simple and straightforward video showed Saudi Arabia’s empty streets and the jarring image of the empty courtyard around the Kaaba during last year’s lockdown.
On Saturday, 684 cases were confirmed, raising the total number of cases to 392,009.
Riyadh was the region with the most new cases at 320, Makkah had 131 cases and the Eastern Province 98 cases. Baha reported only 4 new cases.
The number of active cases passed the 6,000 mark, 761 of whom are in critical care units, a rise of 26 cases in the past 24 hours.
In addition, 439 new recoveries were reported, raising the total number of cases to 379,312. The Kingdom’s recovery rate is currently 96.7 percent.

INNUMBERS

392,009 Total cases

379,312 Recoveries

6,690 Deaths

Six new COVID-19 related fatalities were reported, raising the Kingdom’s death tally to 6,690.
On the vaccine front, Saudi Arabia administered nearly 4.9 million doses at a rate of 117,839 daily doses. Nearly 14 percent of the Kingdom’s population of 34.8 million have received their vaccinations.
More than 15.2 million PCR tests have been conducted in the Kingdom since the beginning of the pandemic, 53,777 of which conducted in the past 24 hours.
Thirteen mosques have been temporarily shut down in the past 24 hours across seven regions due to confirmed cases amongst worshippers. In total, 454 mosques have been temporarily shut over a period of nearly 2 months; 430 have since reopened after completing the necessary sanitization process.


Saudi Arabia’s KAUST advances AI training with winter school

Updated 25 January 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s KAUST advances AI training with winter school

  • The event provides a platform for research collaboration, academic partnerships, and connections with global scientific institutions

JEDDAH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is hosting the second MenaML Winter School, in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, from Jan. 24 to 29.

It brings together leading researchers, scientists, and specialists in artificial intelligence from across the Middle East and North Africa, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The program aims to advance scientific research and build specialized technical skills through an intensive curriculum covering both theoretical and applied AI.

Sessions cover the latest in intelligent model engineering, AI for scientific applications, and high-efficiency computing technologies.

Representatives from 16 international scientific and technological institutions are participating, alongside 300 researchers selected from 2,300 applicants based on merit and research potential.

The event provides a platform for research collaboration, academic partnerships, and connections with global scientific institutions.

It promotes innovation and solutions across sectors, including energy, health, infrastructure, and advanced technology, the SPA reported.

The program strengthens regional human capital through advanced training, knowledge exchange with leading experts, and fostering an ecosystem that encourages research and innovation.

It also reinforces the Kingdom’s role as a regional and global hub for scientific research and advanced technologies, supporting its contribution to the development of AI.