Saudi Arabia Warns Against Family Gatherings During Ramadan amid Pandemic

People are seen at a vaccination center in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
People are seen at a vaccination center in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Warns Against Family Gatherings During Ramadan amid Pandemic

People are seen at a vaccination center in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
People are seen at a vaccination center in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali warned against family gatherings during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

All 10 members of a family were tested positive for COVID-19 after gathering a few days ago, Abdelali added, noting that the virus was transmitted by a previously infected member.

During a weekly press conference on the outbreak on Sunday, he stated that infections rates were on the rise throughout the globe.

Abdelali said that infections in the Kingdom were fluctuating given the vaccination drive with 580 centers made available across the country.

He said more than 8.1 million people have been vaccinated so far, stressing that more centers will be opened given the high turnout to receive the shot.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry said more than 24,000 violations of the preventive measures have been reported in several locations, including restaurants, markets and others. The capital, Riyadh, topped the list with 8,362 violations.

The Health Ministry recorded on Sunday 953 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 412,216. It confirmed 1,028 recoveries, raising the total to 395,557, and 13 deaths, taking the toll to 6,900.



Saudi, Brazilian Foreign Ministers Sign MoU to Establish Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA
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Saudi, Brazilian Foreign Ministers Sign MoU to Establish Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. SPA

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Rio de Janeiro on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

The two officials reviewed relations and discussed regional and international developments.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a Saudi-Brazilian Coordination Council, building on the agreement reached between the two countries' leaders during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to Saudi Arabia on November 30, 2023.

Director-General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Aldawood and Saudi Ambassador to Brazil Dr. Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam were in attendance.