MOH News

MOH: ICU Bed Capacity Boosted by 30% in 3 Months
07 July 2020

The Assistant Minister of Health and MOH spokesman, Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdulaali, has revealed that 3,392 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Kingdom, bringing the total cases to 217,108. These include 60,252 active cases, still receiving medical care. Their health conditions are mostly stable, with the exception of 2,268 critical cases. Al-Abudlaali made this statement during the COVID-19 briefing held today, which also hosted Dr. Jalal Al-Ewais, supervisor general of MOH Emergency and Disasters.


According to Al-Abdulaali, the number of new recoveries has amounted to 5,205, bringing the total recoveries to date to 154,839. And 49 new deaths were reported, bringing the total deaths to 2017. This table shows the distribution of new COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom’s cities, as well as the numbers of cases, recoveries and deaths worldwide. He mentioned that 42,968 new laboratory tests have been conducted, bringing the total tests in the Kingdom to 201,8657. And of the confirmed reported today, 37% are females and 63% are males. Only 5% of the reported cases are older persons, 10% are children, and 85% are adults.

The MOH spokesman pointed out that ‘Tatamman’ and ‘Taakkad’ clinics continue to work by leaps and bounds to detect new COVID-19 cases, and receive those suffering respiratory symptoms associated with the infection. He mentioned that the Kingdom has managed to increase its capacity from one central laboratory, conducting a few hundreds of tests a day, at the onset of the pandemic, to more than 40 testing facilities, conducting thousands of tests a day.

According to Dr. Al-Abdulaali, anyone who has symptoms or wants an assessment can use the self-assessment service on ‘Mawid’ application. Citizens who have questions can also inquire or seek advice by calling the 937 Call Center, available 24/7. The call center is now made closer to everyone than ever. Citizens can also benefit from its interactive services through WhatsApp application on the number 920005937. They can have access to health information and updates on COVID-19. The service also provides users with information on blood donation and primary health care centers (PHCs). Besides, it enables them to reserve appointments.

For his part, Dr. Jalal Al-Ewais, supervisor general of MOH Emergency and Disasters, highlighted that the Kingdom has taken serious measures to boost its ICU bed capacity by 30% over the past few months ever since the pandemic started. This colossal effort, which was made amid a highly competitive international environment, has helped to accommodate the large number of COVID-19 cases in need of medical care. Right now, he said, the bed occupancy is 64% in Riyadh, 68% in Makkah, and 75% in Jeddah.

Al-Ewais reiterated that everyone should be involved in the fight against the pandemic. Health professionals do their best to provide medical care to those who need it, he said, and the public, in turn, should make every effort to suppress the outbreak, by following the necessary preventive measures.








Last Update : 10 July 2020 12:16 AM
Reading times :