MOH News

MOH: Fluctuations Still Observed in COVID-19 Infection Rates
07 March 2021

The MOH spokesman, Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdulaali, has declared that fluctuations are still observed in the COVID-19 infection curve, following the spike that took place in early 2021. He underscored the importance of adherence to preventive measures. Meanwhile, he mentioned that 1,332,740 individuals have received the COVID-19 vaccine so far. He called on those vaccinated to stick to the preventive measures as well, noting that the real protection resides, first and foremost, in community our community as a society.


Al-Abdulaali revealed that 357 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Kingdom, bringing the total cases to 379,831. These include 2,689 active cases, still receiving medical care. Their health status is mostly stable, with the exception of 505 critical cases.

Dr. Al-Abdulaali made this statement in the COVID-19 briefing held on Sunday, which also hosted the Ministry of Interior (MOI) spokesman, Lt. Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub, and the Deputy Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for Contractor Classification, Dr. Ahmad Qattan. Dr. Al-Abdulaali mentioned that 313 COVID-19 recoveries were reported, bringing the total number of recoveries to 270,614 to date. Four new deaths were also reported, bringing the total COVID-19 deaths in the Kingdom to 6,528. 

He restated that health services are still provided by all MOH centers and facilities. ‘Taakkad’ centers have conducted 7,787,480 swaps, and ‘Tatatamman’ centers have received 2,060,751 beneficiaries. Similarly, the 937 Service Center has provided health and medical consultations to 28,752,238 beneficiaries. And the total number of COVID-19 lab tests has amounted to 13,972,208 tests.

For his part, Lt. Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub said, “Praise is to Allah, for He has blessed us with a wise leadership that prioritizes and preserves man from all what threatens his security and safety. This leadership still spares no effort to protect citizens and residents in the Kingdom with the measures it takes and the burdens it bears.”  

He has added that the updates of the epidemiological curve across the Kingdom indicated reassuring results. Thus, it was announced last Friday evening that a number of precautionary measures concerning some of the activities that were to be stopped in the statements issued on the 3rd and 14th of February 2021 would be suspended. This is be applicable as of Sunday, the 23rd of Rajab 1442H, within the framework of the precautionary and preventive measures. 

The announcement includes allowing the practice of recreational activities and events, reopening cinemas, allowing the activities of indoor entertainment centers, and reopening the independent indoor games’ venues in restaurants and shopping centers, etc. It also comprises allowing the activities of gyms and sports centers and the provision of internal ordering services in restaurants, cafes, etc.  

On the other hand, the following precautionary measures are still applicable: All events and parties shall continue to be suspended until further notice. This includes weddings, company meetings, etc inside party halls, stand-alone or hotel wedding venues, as well as rest houses and camps that are used for such purposes. Moreover, funeral prayers in graveyards shall be distributed all over the day, while 20 individuals shall continue to be the maximum number for human gatherings at social events.   

Additionally, Lt. Col. Al-Shalhoub has asserted that everyone's interest was to stay away from any site that witnessed violation in gathering or weakness in the application of protocol, and to take the initiative to report the case to deal with it. He has also called upon citizens and residents to maintain the continuation of the reached positive results, to preserve the public health of the community, and to protect the gains achieved lately.     

In the same context, he has stressed that field visits would continue to be intensified and competent authorities would be supported to follow up adherence to the precautionary measures, while infractions would be applied against all negligent implementations. He has also noted that during the past week, 41,590 violations of the precautionary and preventive measures against coronavirus were seized. 17,321 violations were reported in Riyadh, 8,961 violations in Makkah, 4,962 in the Eastern Region, and 191 in Jazan.  

Within this framework, such violations included not wearing facemasks, breaching social distancing instructions, and violating gatherings. Therefore, Lt. Col. Al-Shalhoub has called upon everyone to take the initiative of vaccination, in order to immunize themselves and protect society, as prevention means safety. Eventually, he has wished that Allah would keep everyone, the Kingdom, and the leadership safe against harm, and perpetuate the blessing of security and safety on the country.      

From his side, Dr. Ahmad Qattan, has noted that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has spared no effort to protect society and prevent the spread of the virus. Efforts are still exerted, as field and awareness businesses have been intensified. 

He has said that in line with the recent developments and resolutions to resume work in some activities, the Ministry has issued 6 updated protocols and manuals for reopening and controlling a number of activities including women’s beauty salons, restaurants and cafes, public goods markets, wedding and event halls, barbershops, as well as funerals and prayers thereof.  

He has also referred to the field monitoring work that the Ministry, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, implemented. Besides, 24/7 field monitoring teams have been operated to carry out daily control activities over restaurants, markets, and commercial establishments, to ensure that protocols were implemented. Over 602,000 inspection visits were carried out from the 3rd of February to the 6th of March, resulting in 39,000 infractions and 14,000 closures of facilities that breached precautionary measures and procedures.

He has added that in line with such efforts and via technical and health teams, the Ministry implemented continuous tours of collective housing for workers to control violations of health, technical and safety requirements. Statistics suggested the implementation of 559 field visits during the past 5 days, which resulted in the identification of more than 27,000 workers, the issuance of 1,600 warnings, the seizure of more than 800 violations, in addition to the monitoring of 36% overcrowding violations and 64% unlicensed housing violations.

The application of fines and infractions against collective housing for individuals is as follows: 30,000 SAR for the first violation, 40,000 SAR for the second, and 50,000 SAR for the third.  Therefore, everyone has been called upon to report violations via the telephone number (940).    

Dr. Qattan has also pointed out that the monitored violations curve index witnessed a remarkable decrease across all regions, cities and governorates of the Kingdom. This has been due to response and interaction of facilities with the efforts of the Ministry, in addition to the commitment to apply health and municipal instructions and protocols. In this regard, the Ministry has stressed that it would not be negligent in applying penalties to violators of preventive requirements.   

In addition to that, he has stated that the issued protocols included the mandatory presence of ‘Tawakkalna’ application, the development of a mechanism to manage waiting lists inside restaurants and cafes so as to prevent customers from crowding in front of the entrances, the preservation of at least 3 meters distancing space between tables in restaurants and cafes, and the prevention of waiting individuals inside the restaurant or cafe, either for orders or at tables. 





Last Update : 10 March 2021 03:04 AM
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