Oman’s Sultan Donates $26M to Confront Effects of COVID-19

Kuwaiti health workers upon receiving citizens returning from Frankfurt (AFP)
Kuwaiti health workers upon receiving citizens returning from Frankfurt (AFP)
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Oman’s Sultan Donates $26M to Confront Effects of COVID-19

Kuwaiti health workers upon receiving citizens returning from Frankfurt (AFP)
Kuwaiti health workers upon receiving citizens returning from Frankfurt (AFP)

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Thursday donated 10 million Omani riyals (26 million US dollars) to confront the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the Omani News Agency reported.

The donation came as Haitham bin Tariq chaired a meeting of the Supreme Committee in charge of dealing with the spread of the pandemic.

Oman's sultan stressed that the government will spare no effort to confront the new virus and limit its spread, in order to preserve the health of citizens and residents.

The number of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oman has risen to 109, out of whom 23 have recovered, the health ministry announced on Thursday. Most cases were related to travels to other countries.

Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus recovering cases in Bahrain reached 204 as of Thursday, according to the country’s ministry of health, which also revealed that another seven were discharged from quarantine after testing negative for the coronavirus.

Up to 30% of the Bahraini citizens who were evacuated from Iran on a chartered flight that arrived Wednesday night tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are receiving treatment.

This was announced last night at a press conference of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus.

Bahraini Minister of Health Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh underlined Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister’s comprehensive approach to stem the spread of COVID-19 by utilizing tailored effective and preventative strategies, such as the decision to limit public gatherings to 5 people.

The minister went on to highlight expectations regarding the upcoming closure of non-essential businesses set to take place between 26 March 2020 to April 9 2020, during which only hypermarkets, supermarkets, cold stores, bakeries, pharmacies, and banks will remain open, and restaurants will limit their service to delivery and takeout only.



New Saudi Aid Convoys Arrive in Northern Gaza Strip

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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New Saudi Aid Convoys Arrive in Northern Gaza Strip

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

New Saudi aid convoys, consisting of 31 trucks loaded with 4,494 shelter kits, arrived in the northern Gaza Strip to aid residents and displaced people in Gaza City.
The shelter kits meet families' needs; they consist of blankets, mattresses, cooking utensils, water containers, and other basic needs, and will help residents cope with the difficult conditions in Gaza Strip, SPA reported.
The aid is part of the campaign to raise funds to assist the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip, launched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince.
The Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, the executive partner of KSrelief in Gaza Strip, will begin distributing immediately this assistance to displaced families in the northern Gaza Strip, to help alleviate their suffering in the severe cold and the ongoing siege.