FAQs - Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Novel Coronavirus varies clearly in terms of its genetic aspect than the virus causing (SARS). Examinations of infected cases are currently being undertaken and a clearer picture emerge after this research is complete.

According to the discovered cases, the symptoms include acute and severe respiratory symptoms, accompanied by fever, cough and difficulty in respiration.

While there is still limited information about the characteristics and transmission of Coronavirus, the Ministry of Health is coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as a number of international experts, to learn more about it.
Medical consensus recommends that citizens, residents and visitors observe general health guidelines to contain the spread of all infectious respiratory diseases including Coronavirus by observing the following guidelines:

• Wash your hands well and continually with water and soap or with other disinfectants, especially after coughing, sneezing and using toilets.
• Also, don't forget to wash your hands before and after handling with or preparing foods.
• Use a handkerchief when coughing or sneezing to cover your mouth and nose. If handkerchiefs are not available, cover your nose and mouth with material, rather than an exposed hand.
• Try to avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with your hands, as the virus is suspected to be transmittable indirectly by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus.
• According to the latest medical consensus, wearing masks is not necessary unless you are visiting sick patients.
• Maintain healthy habits including a balances diet, physical activity, and get plenty of sleep.
• Maintain personal hygiene.
• Avoid contact with infected people.
• Don't forget to consult your doctor when necessary, and seek updated information about the virus by the Ministry of Health.

According to the latest statistics available, the medical consensus is that there has been an increase. That is why the Ministry of Health and all of the medical teams are working very hard to understand the reasons behind the trends in the behavior of the virus and infection rates. 

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• Direct transmission through droplets expelled during coughs and sneezes.
• Indirect transmission through touching surfaces and devices contaminated with the virus, and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
• Direct contact with patients or infected animals or animal products.

At the current time, there is no need to start screening all patients who have cold or flu-like symptoms, but the expert group of scientists and medical experts has agreed to modify the criteria for people who should be tested and make it wider, as an added precautionary measure.

Our investigations indicate that people who have been exposed to infected individuals can be infected as well without showing any symptoms. When 280 people who were exposed to infected individuals were tested, only 9 tested positive for carrying the virus and none of them had any symptoms.

Cases have been reported in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The World Health Organisation and other international entities are working to monitor the situation and share all the latest best-practice guidelines and clinical findings to enable the global medical community to deal with cases. 

There is no vaccine currently available worldwide.

Cases have been reported in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The World Health Organisation and other international entities are working to monitor the situation and share all the latest best-practice guidelines and clinical findings to enable the global medical community to deal with cases. 

Isolation measures are being immediately taken once a case is confirmed, three specialized centres have been set up in the Kingdom to deal with these cases.