Saudi Indicators Point to Decline in Virus Curve

A Saudi woman waits to get a dose of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
A Saudi woman waits to get a dose of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
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Saudi Indicators Point to Decline in Virus Curve

A Saudi woman waits to get a dose of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
A Saudi woman waits to get a dose of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

Saudi Arabia is seeing signs of a decline in the Covid-19 epidemic curve, according to a recent statement by the Health Ministry.

The ministry noted that the rise in infections in the Kingdom was not linked to the new variants, nor to a second wave, but to the negligence of precautionary measures and health requirements.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali, the spokesman of the Health Ministry, explained that the current rise of infections was less severe than the first outbreak, noting that new and critical cases have increased as some people were attending social events without adhering to the precautionary measures.

The ministry spokesman urged all residents and citizens to register for the vaccination through Sehhaty application, underlining the effectiveness and safety of vaccines.

The Ministry is seeking to expand the distribution of vaccines to all regions after the arrival of new shipments, he said, noting that the current priority was to administer the second dose.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs on Tuesday closed nine mosques temporarily in six regions after infections were confirmed among worshipers.

A total of 79 mosques were closed within a period of nine days, 62 of which were reopened after the completion of the sterilization and disinfection.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday registered 322 new cases of Covid-19 infections, 371 recoveries, and three deaths.

In Kuwait, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al Sabah warned of a “concerning” situation after the increase of the infection rates. The government has decided to deploy the armed forces to impose the implementation of precautionary measures among the population.

“We are entering an alarming situation, as the number of deaths in the past 15 days has reached 50 cases,” Al Sabah said.

The Health Authority in Dubai announced the arrival of a new shipment of the new “Pfizer” vaccine. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the shipment had been distributed to the dedicated health centers in Dubai.

The UAE registered on Monday 3,123 new cases, bringing the cumulative number of infections to 351,895 cases.



Saudi Arabia, Jordan Discuss Preparations for Conference on Two-State Solution

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Jordan Discuss Preparations for Conference on Two-State Solution

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has met with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi in Riyadh to discuss preparations for a conference on the Palestinian cause.

The two officials discussed on Wednesday the relations between the two countries, ways to enhance cooperation across various fields, and the recent regional and international developments, focusing particularly on the Palestinian cause and the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip.

They highlighted the efforts of the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit to address developments in the Gaza Strip, and reviewed preparations for an upcoming conference, scheduled for June under the joint leadership of Saudi Arabia and France, which aims to address the Palestinian cause and advance the two-state solution.