Saudi Arabia confirms 17 COVID-19 deaths, 1,261 new cases

The coronavirus pandemic has affected over 174 million people globally and the death toll has reached around 3.75 million. (File/SPA)
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Updated 08 June 2021
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Saudi Arabia confirms 17 COVID-19 deaths, 1,261 new cases

  • The Kingdom said 922 patients recovered in past 24 hours
  • 11 mosques reopened in 3 regions after being sterilized after some people tested positive for coronavirus

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia recorded 17 new COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday, raising the total number of fatalities to 7,488.
The Ministry of Health confirmed 1,261 new confirmed cases reported in the Kingdom in the previous 24 hours, meaning 459,968 people have now contracted the disease. 
Of the total number of cases, 9,698 remain active and 1,580 in critical condition.
According to the ministry, the highest number of cases were recorded in Makkah with 401, followed by the capital Riyadh with 304, the Eastern Province with 167, and Madinah and Asir confirmed 84 cases each.
The health ministry also announced that 922 patients had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 442,782.

The ministry renewed its call on the public to register to receive the vaccine, and adhere to the measures and abide by instructions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs reopened 11 mosques in three regions after temporarily evacuating and sterilizing them after some people tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of mosques closed and reopened after being sterilized to 1,520 within 122 days.
The ministry said it has carried out 21,765 inspection tours of mosques across the Kingdom during the past week, where it recorded a total of 1,362 violations, “which were immediately addressed.”
The coronavirus pandemic has affected over 174 million people globally and the death toll has reached around 3.75 million.


Saudi Arabia and Britain declare 2029 as cultural year

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Saudi Arabia and Britain declare 2029 as cultural year

  • The announcement coincides with Prince William’s visit to Saudi Arabia this week
  • The Saudi-British partnership in 2029 will emphasize culture, education, collaborative efforts in heritage conservation, visual and culinary arts, and architecture

LONDON: The Saudi Ministry of Culture announced that 2029 will be designated as the “Saudi-British Cultural Year,” in partnership with the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The announcement on Wednesday coincides with Prince William’s visit to the Kingdom this week. The declaration highlights the strong bond between the two kingdoms, which is rooted in over a century of diplomatic relations, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The Saudi-British partnership in 2029 will emphasize culture, education, and innovation, as well as collaborative efforts in heritage conservation, visual and culinary arts, and architecture.

In 2029, the emphasis will be on celebrating creative dialogue and cultural heritage to strengthen ties between Saudi Arabia and the UK for future generations, the SPA added.

Separately, Saudi Arabia will also host the next session of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT) in 2029. This global platform for cultural dialogue was first held in Mexico in 1982.

The initiatives are part of Vision 2030 and reflect Saudi Arabia’s latest efforts on national, regional, and international levels to reinforce the role of culture in sustainable development.