The MOH spokesman, Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdulaali, said that the number of new COVID-19 cases is fluctuating, which means that protective measures should still remain in place. He announced that young people are at risk of catching coronavirus and its variants, and that Delta variant is the most transmissible of all variants to date.
Meanwhile, he affirmed that vaccines are effective against that specific variant, and that antibodies start to be produced in the body as soon as soon as a person takes the first dose of the vaccine, while the second dose boosts the response of the immune system. It is now scientifically proven that the vaccine is effective in children aged 12-18 years old, he said. As for side effects, he added, some of them are associated with taking any vaccine (not specifically COVID-19 vaccine). The symptoms of COVID-19 vaccines are rare, and have not been proven to be linked to the vaccines. “We continue to monitor the effects of the vaccines,” he stressed.
As regards the vaccination process in the Kingdom, Al-Abdulaali mentioned that 18,326,022 doses of the vaccine have been given to citizens and residents at 587 vaccination centers across the Kingdom. He revealed that 1,173 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Kingdom, bringing the total cases to 492,785. These include 11,970 active cases, still receiving medical care. Their health status is mostly stable, with the exception of 1,348 critical cases.
The MOH spokesman 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. Dr. Al-Abdulaali mentioned that 1,389 COVID-19 recoveries were reported, bringing the total number of recoveries to 472,939 to date. And 13 new deaths were reported, bringing the total deaths to 7,876.
For his part, the MOI spokesman, Lt. Col. Al-Shalhoub said that, although the emerging coronavirus variants are triggering anxiety worldwide, our government remains a forerunner, when it comes to the precautionary measures meant to maintain the safety of our country and our people.
He added that, as per the provisions and penalties of violating the precautionary measures imposed to combat COVID-19, and in an effort to assure compliance with those measures and protocols to curb the spread of the disease during this year’s Hajj season, any person who attempts to reach the Grand Mosque, the central zone around it, or any of the Holy Places (Mina, Muzdalifa and Mount Arafat) without carrying a permit thereto, shall be fined SAR 10,000, and if the same violation is repeated, the fine shall be doubled. This decision shall be effective as of 25 Dhul-Qe’da, 1442AH.
Al-Shalhoub also announced that, out of the government’s interest in maintaining the safety and health of citizens willing to travel abroad, given the instability underway in some countries, and in light of the fact that the pandemic is still unfolding, and an emerging variant is posing eminent danger, a travel ban has been imposed on flights to the following destinations (unless the passenger obtains an advance permission from the concerned authorities): Ethiopia, UAE and Vietnam, to be added to the previously issued travel bans, which shall remain in place. Besides, flights from the following countries shall be suspended: Ethiopia, UAE, Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Exempted from this travel ban shall be any person who has spent 14 days outside the aforementioned four countries, besides all the countries announced before. Flights to and from the said countries shall be suspended, and institutional quarantine shall be applied on all arrivals from these countries. Exempted from this decision shall be the Saudi citizens currently existing in any of those countries, who shall return home no later than 24 Dhul-Qe’da, 1442AH, 11:00PM, whereupon flights shall be suspended.
Last week, Al-Shalhoub said, 20,213 violations to the COVID-19 precautionary measures were reported, with Riyadh Region ranking the first, followed by the Eastern Region, and then Makkah Region. Those violations included: crowding violations, and non-compliance with self-isolation and quarantine after having proven to be infected with COVID-19, in addition to non-compliance with institutional quarantine rules by arrivals from abroad. The statutory penalties were applied.
The MOI spokesman called on everyone to adhere to the preventive and precautionary measures, and report any violation thereto, by calling 911 (in Riyadh and Makkah regions), and 999 (in the rest of KSA regions), or by calling the numbers of the authorities overseeing private businesses. He confirmed that people vaccinated with the MOH-licensed vaccine will soon be allowed to enter all public places and means of transport, as well as restoring all activities.
The virus has not gone anywhere, he warned, and remains capable of robbing us of our loved ones. All we have to do is take the vaccine as soon as possible, and adhere to the precautionary measures. May Allah protect you all, and rescue us - and the whole world - from this pandemic.