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.



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.