The committee concerned with following up on the status of the novel coronavirus held its ninth meeting here Friday, under the chairmanship of the Health Minister, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah.
The committee, which held its first meeting on February 1st, 2020, includes representatives from the ministries of Defense, Energy, Interior, National Guard, Foreign Affairs, Health, Finance, Media, Commerce and Investment, Hajj and Umrah, and Education, as well as the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the General Authority of Customs, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
The committee reviewed the related international events, assessed the current situation, and followed up on recommendations made in previous meetings. Regarding the global situation, the committee took a number of measures to prevent the infiltration of the virus. It also decided to hold a press conference on Sunday during which officials of a number of concerned bodies will shed light on the latest developments and answer questions by journalists.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the committee is following up the status of the COVID-19, coordinating among the concerned authorities, ensuring that precautionary and preventive measures are applied in the air, land and sea entry ports to prevent infiltration of the virus through screening passengers arriving from coronavirus-afflicted countries via direct and indirect flights, in direct coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority. Also, the committee is following the implementation of the disclosure mechanism by the Passport General Directorate, preparing health surveillance centers and providing screening devices and thermographic cameras. The committee is making sure that all health facilities are ready to deal with the virus and following up on the educational efforts of all concerned sectors with the Ministry of Education and the activities and awareness campaigns it carries out in schools and universities. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is also reviewing requests for visitor visa for Umrah and the implementation of instructions issued in this regard, in addition to the Ministry's instructions to Umrah companies and institutions to follow up on Umrah performers currently in the Kingdom and provide them with all facilities.