Saudi Arabia reports 310 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths

Of the new infections, 129 were recorded in Riyadh. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)
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Updated 24 October 2022
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Saudi Arabia reports 310 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia reported 310 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health. As a result, the total number of cases in the Kingdom over the course of the pandemic grew to 820,644.

The authorities also confirmed two new COVID-19-related deaths, raising the total number of fatalities to 9,395.

Of the new infections, 129 were recorded in Riyadh, 48 in Jeddah, 28 in Madinah and 14 in Taif. Several other cities recorded fewer than 10 new cases each.

The ministry also announced that 245 patients had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom over the course of the pandemic to 806,919.

It said that 4,330 COVID-19 cases were still active, adding that 12,919 PCR tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number to more than 44.5 million.

The ministry said that of the current cases, 62 patients were in critical condition.

Almost 69 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the Kingdom’s immunization campaign began, with more than 25 million people fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, testing hubs and treatment centers set up throughout the Kingdom have helped millions of people since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Taakad centers provide COVID-19 testing for those who show no or mild symptoms or believe they have come into contact with an infected individual, while Tetamman clinics offer treatment and advice to those with virus symptoms such as fever, loss of taste and smell, and breathing difficulties.
 


Saudi air defenses destroy 3 ballistic missiles, 4 drones 

Updated 39 min 10 sec ago
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Saudi air defenses destroy 3 ballistic missiles, 4 drones 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's air defenses on Monday have shot down at least three ballistic missiles and four drones that have entered the Kingdom's airspace at past midnight, the Ministry of Defense said.

In a series of posts on X, the ministry said three ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj were intercepted and destroyed. 

Two drones were shot down in the northern part of the national capital, Riyadh city, another one aimed at the Shaybah oil field was intercepted in the Empty Quarter desert, and another one was destroyed in the northern province of Al-Jouf.

Monday's early waves of strikes in the Kingdom and other Gulf states seem to follow a pattern, with Iran launching missiles and drones in waves starting at midnight, continuing relentlessly until late in the day.

Saudi Arabia's air defenses had successfully intercepted and destroyed multiple numbers of missile and drones in the past days. Most of the missiles are aimed at the Prince Sultan Air Base, while many of the drones were targeted at the Shaybah field.

Video footage posted by the Ministry of Defense on X on Sunday showed some of the enemy drones being neutralized.

On Sunday, however, two people were reported killed and 12 injured after a projectile fell on a residential area in Al-Kharj governorate, where the Prince Sultan Air Base is located.

An official spokesman for the Saudi Civil Defense said that the two deceased were Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, while the dozen injured were all Bangladeshi residents. The victims were employees of a maintenance and cleaning company in the area.