Saudi Arabia Sees Drop in Coronavirus Cases for 3rd Consecutive Day

Citizen receiving coronavirus vaccine in Jazan Vaccination center, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Citizen receiving coronavirus vaccine in Jazan Vaccination center, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Sees Drop in Coronavirus Cases for 3rd Consecutive Day

Citizen receiving coronavirus vaccine in Jazan Vaccination center, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Citizen receiving coronavirus vaccine in Jazan Vaccination center, Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Coronavirus cases continued to drop in Saudi Arabia for the third consecutive day, recording 322 new cases on Sunday, compared to 338 on Saturday.

Health Ministry spokesman, Mohammed al-Abdulaali confirmed that the fluctuation of the infections curve is being monitored and observed continuously, indicating that the commitment to health measures is a baseline for protecting society.

Abdulaali asserted that individual immunity is an important step and helps in reaching community immunity and overcoming the pandemic.

The Health Ministry announced that over 780,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, explaining that Pfizer-BioNtech and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, approved by the Food and Drug Authority, are both safe and do not reduce or weaken immunity.

Abdulaali explained, during a press conference, that it is necessary to receive both doses from the same vaccine, indicating the studies and research are inconclusive on the possibility of receiving different kinds of vaccines.

The total number of infections in the Kingdom reached 377,383 cases since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, according to the daily report of the Ministry of Health.

The data of the Ministry showed that the number of active cases currently stands at 2,584 cases, of which 481 are critical.

The Riyadh region continued to record the highest number of infections with 167 cases, followed by the Eastern region with 66 and the Makkah region with 37 new infections.

The Ministry recorded 294 new recoveries, bringing the total to 368,305 cases, with a total recovery rate of 97.59 percent.

It also announced six more deaths from complications caused by COVID-19, bringing the total virus-related fatalities to 6,494, compared to 6,488 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities recorded in one week, 43,428 violations of the precautionary measures imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to recent statistics from the Ministry of Interior.

Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Talal al-Shalhoub said that the Riyadh region topped the list with 17,789 violations, followed by the Makkah region with 10,388, then the eastern region with 4,819. Najran region maintained first place with the fewest number of violations, recording 155 violations.

The ministry called on citizens and residents to abide by the preventive measures and the instructions issued by authorities in this regard, urging them to maintain following precautions and wearing the mask even after receiving the health passport.

The Health Ministry continues to open vaccination centers to include all regions of the Kingdom in its efforts to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents and limit the spread of the coronavirus, urging everyone to register via the “Sehatty” application to obtain the vaccine.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance shut down temporarily two mosques in Makkah and Madina after two cases of coronavirus were confirmed among worshippers.

The authorities shut 168 mosques temporarily in the past 21 days, with 153 reopening after precautionary measures were completed.



Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
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Kuwait Includes 8 Lebanese Hospitals on 'Terror' List

Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA
Kuwait indicated that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.” KUNA

Kuwait's foreign ministry issued on Sunday a circular indicating that it had listed eight hospitals in Lebanon as part of regulations related to "combating terrorism.”

Lebanon's health ministry expressed surprise and said it would seek clarification.

It said it received the Kuwaiti statement "with great surprise", adding it had not been provided with "any information or notification from any Kuwaiti entity about this matter.”

"The hospitals mentioned in the statement are registered with the syndicate of private hospitals in Lebanon and carry out their role in providing treatment and health services to all Lebanese without exception," the ministry statement said.

It called the facilities "an essential part of the Lebanese health system,” and said it would contact the relevant authorities to request clarification and "protect Lebanon's health system.”

It noted that "Kuwait has numerous joint projects with the ministry... and has been among the most prominent countries that have stood by the health system during the successive crises that Lebanon has faced.”

The latest move was "unprecedented and inconsistent" with the Gulf country's usual approach, it added.


Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi and Guatemalan FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Ramiro Martínez in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed developments of mutual interest.


Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
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Faisal bin Farhan, Barrack Discuss Developments in Syria

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince met on Sunday with the US Special Envoy for Syria in Riyadh.(SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met on Sunday with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed developments in Syria.