Saudi Health Ministry Says No Evidence Hot Weather Will Curb Pandemic

Deserted streets in Saudi Arabia amid a curfew imposed by authorities over the coronvirus. (SPA)
Deserted streets in Saudi Arabia amid a curfew imposed by authorities over the coronvirus. (SPA)
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Saudi Health Ministry Says No Evidence Hot Weather Will Curb Pandemic

Deserted streets in Saudi Arabia amid a curfew imposed by authorities over the coronvirus. (SPA)
Deserted streets in Saudi Arabia amid a curfew imposed by authorities over the coronvirus. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia registered on Tuesday 435 new cases of the novel coronavirus.

Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali said the latest figures bring the Kingdom’s total to 5,369, including 4,407 active cases, the majority of which are in stable condition. Sixty-two are in intensive care.

A total of 889 patients have recovered and eight have died, raising the fatalities to 73, the majority of whom had already suffered from chronic health problems, he told a press briefing.

Moreover, Abdelali stressed there was no evidence to indicate that the hot summer weather would curb the spread of the coronavirus, urging against believing rumors related to the virus.

On the whether the curfew will be lifted, he said it was too soon to talk about the issue.



Gulf, EU Leaders Meet for First Summit against Background of Mideast Turmoil

European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
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Gulf, EU Leaders Meet for First Summit against Background of Mideast Turmoil

European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)
European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pose during an official welcome ceremony on the day of the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels Belgium October 16, 2024. (Reuters)

The leaders of six Gulf nations and European Union met for an inaugural summit on Wednesday against a backdrop of turmoil in the Middle East and struggles to find a unified position on the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, led Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the meeting in Brussels.

The summit was expected to encompass everything from visas and trade to the situation in the Middle East.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the summit was “long overdue” and added that “the economic ties between the European Union and the Gulf countries need to be strengthened."

“They are there, but they have the potential to be developed much, much further,” he said.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that “to be strategic partners means to listen to each other, to respect each other, to trust each other.”

She also highlighted the need for cooperation on pressing geopolitical issues like the war in Ukraine and that of Israel against Hamas and Hezbollah groups.

“We cannot implement our economic ambitions without security,” she said.

The 27-nation EU has long had relations with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which include Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.