Saudi Arabia registered on Saturday 99 new cases of the novel coronavirus, raising the Kingdom’s total to 1,203.
Health ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdelali said ten of the new cases were related to travel
One death was reported in Riyadh, he told a press briefing, bringing the toll to four.
The latest casualty suffered from a chronic illness, he said. Two patients have recovered, bringing the count to 37, while four were in intensive care.
UAE extends curfew
The United Arab Emirates extended on Saturday to April 5 a de-facto nightly curfew to sterilize public places as part of efforts to contain the virus outbreak, the health ministry said on Saturday.
The plan to sterilize public places is being implemented between 8 pm and 6 am each day.
It began on March 26 and was originally meant to end on the morning of March 29.
“We are all hoping that everybody, citizens, residents and visitors, will stay at home during this period,” Farida Al- Hosani, a health ministry spokeswoman, told a media conference broadcast on local TV channels.
The UAE has reported two deaths from the pandemic and 468 confirmed infections.
1st death in Qatar
Qatar on Saturday recorded its first death from the coronavirus, a Bangladeshi resident, and 28 more cases to take its total to 590 infections, the health ministry said.
The 57-year-old Bangladeshi national was suffering from a previous chronic disease, state news agency QNA reported.
The majority of cases in Qatar have been diagnosed among migrant laborers, and authorities have locked down a large section of an industrial zone where many live and work.
More cases in Kuwait, Oman
Kuwait registered 10 new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours. The health ministry said the latest count brings the country’s tally to 235.
Six Kuwaiti nationals and female foreign resident have recovered, said Health Minister Dr. Bassel Al-Sabah.
The country has reported 64 recoveries from the infection.
Kuwait has imposed partial nationwide curfews and suspended work at most public and private sector establishments. On Thursday, it banned all taxis, directed the state supply company to cover any basic food shortages and said it would disburse a month’s salary to all Kuwaiti students abroad.
Oman, meanwhile, counted on Saturday 21 new virus cases, raising its tally to 152.
The health ministry said eight of the new patients became infected after coming in contact with others. Eight others were related to travel abroad and five were still being investigated.
Oman has reported 23 recoveries.
Bahrainis return from Iran
Bahrain announced that a plane repatriating stranded nationals in Iran had arrived in the country via Muscat.
The health ministry thanked authorities in Oman for their cooperation in evacuating the nationals and taking all necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
It stressed that it was continuing its preventive efforts against the coronavirus, adding that all arrivals will be tested for the virus. People showing symptoms will be quarantined in line with World Health Organization guidelines.
Efforts are ongoing with concerned authorities to ensure that Bahraini nationals abroad are returned home safely, it said.
