The Assistant Minister of Health and MOH spokesman, Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdulaali, affirmed that the world still recording an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and applying the required preventive measures to deal with them. Some countries record a significant rise weekly, while others record a drop, including the Kingdom.
Al-Abdulaali made this statement during the COVID-19 brief held on today (Sunday), which also hosted the official spokesman of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Mr. Jamaan Al-Asiri.
He revealed that 348 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Kingdom, bringing the total cases to 342,202. These include 8,479 active cases, still receiving medical care. Their health status is mostly stable, with the exception of 825 critical cases.
He pointed out that 373 cases have been recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 328,538 cases, all praise is due to Allah. About 44% of the new reported cases are females, and 56% are males. Only 4% of the cases are older persons, 12% are children, and 84% are adults. Also, 20 new deaths have been reported; bringing the total deaths to 5,185. Moreover, 38,385 new lab tests for COVID-19 have been conducted in the Kingdom’s laboratories, bringing the total to 7,354,136.
No society has immunity and protection from infection or occurrence of new waves, however commitment to instructions help to prevent new episodes, he said.
“We notice a significant decline in the number of critical cases in the Kingdom at up to 2% and recoveries reached more than 96%. The ministry continues the provision of health services at all its facilities and centers, with 3,778,447 persons served by Takkad centers and 1,330,950 by Tetamman clinics and 19,769,663 by the 937 Call Center” he added.
For his part, Mr. Asiri said that the Presidency, in collaboration with the concerned authorities, has developed a comprehensive plan for the current phase, including several axes, the technical and artificial intelligence axis, awareness and media axis and mass management administration. All these axes focus on everything that facilitates visitors’ access to the Prophet Mosque. The Presidency has prepared 1,700 female and male staff and around 4,000 workers to serve the visitors.
Through “Etemarna” app, the visitor can fill out a request to visit the Prophet Mosque and pray in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, he said, reiterating the importance of wearing face mask, avoiding gatherings at entrances and exits, keeping distance form others and bringing his own prayer mat.
Asiri stated that the Prophet Mosque is sterilized 10 times a day before and after each prayer, as well as Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah before entering and exiting worshipers, and Al-Salam Gate corridor with ozone and ultraviolet rays. He went on saying that 4 tracks have been designated and another track for persons with disability, with the help of medical and ambulatory teams. 11,880 visitors will be able to enter the Prophet Mosque every day.