Saudi Arabia starts COVID-19 jabs at home
Kingdom Hospital approved as first private hospital to provide vaccination services
Jeddah Health Affairs on Thursday launched a vaccination program against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for home healthcare patients.
The program, which is supported by the Health Ministry, is aimed at adult home healthcare patients and adults who share a residence with these patients.
Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s coronavirus infection rate continues to fluctuate and is being monitored closely. He highlighted the importance of adherence to precautionary measures.
Saudi Arabia reported four more virus-related deaths on Thursday, lifting the overall death toll to 6,514. The ministry reported 375 new cases, meaning that 378,708 people have contracted the disease. There are 2,581 active cases, with 503 in critical condition. According to the ministry, 162 of the new cases were in Riyadh, 66 in Makkah, 61 in the Eastern Province
and 14 in Madinah.
In addition, 336 patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total to 369,613 recoveries.
Saudi Arabia has so far conducted 13,829,692 PCR tests, with 47,118 tests carried out in the past 24 hours.
Saudi health clinics set up by the ministry as testing hubs or treatment centers have helped hundreds of thousands of people around the Kingdom since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Among those testing hubs are Taakad (make sure) centers and Tetamman (rest assured) clinics. Taakad centers provide testing for those who show no or mild symptoms or believe they have come into contact with an infected individual, while the Tetamman clinics offer treatment and advice to those with virus symptoms, such as fever, loss of taste and smell and breathing difficulties. Appointments to either service can also be made through the ministry’s Sehhaty app.
Al-Aly said that health services continue through all centers and facilities. Taakad centers carried out 7,602,845 swabs, while Tetamman
clinics provided services to 2,046,344 people.
Health and medical consultations were also provided to 28,557,611 people through the call center 937.
Saudis and expats in the Kingdom continue to be vaccinated, with 1,093,468 people having been inoculated at 405 centers, including drive-throughs.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom Hospital has been approved as the first specialized private hospital to provide vaccination services against COVID-19. The hospital previously supplied vaccines for free during the national campaign.
A strategic partnership agreement was signed between the hospital and the ministry. The date for receiving those eligible for vaccination is due to be announced shortly.
The Kingdom Hospital said that beneficiaries will be received through the special gate of the VIP Center at the main headquarters located at the intersection of King Abdul Aziz Road with Al-Thumama Road. Medical staff will record the beneficiaries and the vaccine data in approved national electronic systems.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have discussed areas of cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean.
This came hours after Turkey announced its willingness to negotiate with Egypt in order to reach an agreement to demarcate the maritime borders in the oil-rich region.
The Egyptian presidential spokesman, Bassam Radi, said that the call between the two officials discussed the close bilateral relations that bring the two countries together in various fields, especially cooperation in energy and the eastern Mediterranean.
During the call, the Egyptian president confirmed the strength of Egyptian-Greek relations. El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s aspiration to advance various aspects of constructive cooperation, especially in economic and energy fields, and on areas of security. The Greek prime minister affirmed his keenness to exchange views and consult with the president on regional issues of common interest.
He pointed out the importance
of mutual coordination especially in the energy sector and in the eastern Mediterranean.
The phone call came hours after a statement made by
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who told a press conference that Turkey and Egypt may negotiate the demarcation of the eastern Mediterranean borders if their relations allow such a step.
Turkish presidential spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, expressed his country’s desire to restore relations with Egypt back in October. Turkey’s conflict has intensified with neighboring countries, especially Greece and Cyprus, since 2019 to control regional waters that are subject to international disagreement, with the aim of converting them into Turkish concession areas, which are likely to contain quantities of natural gas. While Egypt has demarcated its borders with Greece, President El-Sisi last October ratified an agreement signed on Aug. 6, 2020 between the Egyptian and Greek governments regarding the designation of the exclusive economic zone. In 2019, Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Italy and the Palestinian territories held the EastMed Gas Forum without Turkey. Turkey’s gas exploration in maritime areas disputed with Greece and Cyprus has poisoned relations between these parties for months.