The MOH spokesman, Dr. Muhammed Al-Abdulaali, said that a large number of COVID-19 cases is recorded every day worldwide. On the other hand, several countries have managed to increase the number of vaccines given to individuals, taking the number of cases to lower levels, which reflects more control over the virus.
“In the Kingdom, the number of cases is within positive, reassuring levels,” he said. MOH is keeping an eye on the increasing number of inpatients and critical cases in the Kingdom. Additionally, the curve of critical cases becomes analogous to that of recorded cases after 2-4 weeks. He expressed his optimism about seeing a decline in the COVID-19 curve in the coming days, stressing the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures and getting vaccinated.
The MOH spokesman made this statement in the COVID-19 briefing held on Sunday, with the participation of the spokesman of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Saif Al-Suwailem.
Dr. Al-Abdulaali said that anyone over the age of 16 and has last received the second dose 3-6 months ago can receive the booster shot. People who have just recovered from COVID-19 can also get the booster shot straight after their recovery.
More than 56,000,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been received across the Kingdom, and over 23,600,000 people have received two doses. The positive effect of the vaccines can be easily observed, as they have significantly reduced the number of critical cases in KSA.
For his part, the spokesman of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Saif Al-Suwailem, said that the Ministry is overseeing the application of the precautionary measures inside establishments and shopping malls, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, with the aim of achieving the joint healthcare goals with all government sectors. Regions’ secretariats and sub-municipalities are reinforcing their inspection visits to markets, commercial establishments, and wedding halls, and reassuring compliance numbers were recorded by the municipal sector.
The ministry, represented by the regional secretariats, has implemented 528,489 oversight rounds since the beginning of the application of the mitigated precautionary measures, on the first of October, up until yesterday.
The municipal sector in the Ministry continues to carry out field inspection rounds to monitor the implementation of the preventive controls imposed by the health authorities through the regions’ secretariats and sub-municipalities, at malls, commercial establishments, and wedding and event halls.
The Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing will be tightening control over shop owners to ensure the health status of their customers, employees, and workers on ‘Tawakkalna’ application is (Vaccinated). This decision will come into effect starting from the first Tuesday of February 2022, in an attempt to ensure that everyone remains healthy and protected, and urge shop owners to avoid violations, penalties, and fines. Al-Suwailem said that his Ministry stresses the importance of adhering to all prevention means by wearing face masks at all times, continuously sanitizing hands, and abiding by the health instructions issued in this regard. The Ministry also urges citizens and residents to get their doses of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the Kingdom.
Al-Suwailem concluded by saying that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing receives reports of violations of the preventive measures on the regional secretariat’s number (940) or via the official outlets approved by MOH.