Saudi Arabia closes 71 mosques over increasing infections
Kingdom confirms 3,369 new Covid-19 cases as total crosses 105,200
Saudi religious authorities have temporarily closed 71 mosques across the kingdom over a rise in coronavirus infections due to non-compliance with precautionary measures and preventive protocols.
In a statement, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Abdul Latif Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, said: “The failure of these mosques to abide by preventive protocols has led to more Covid-19 cases being reported.
“The mosques will be completely sterilised during the temporary closure,” Al Shaikh added.
Saudi Arabia reported 3,369 new cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 105,283, the Ministry of Health announced yesterday. The ministry also confirmed 34 deaths, taking the death toll in country to 746.
A private hospital in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, has been shut down after a number of staff contracted Covid-19, Saudi media has reported.
Medical sources revealed that a number of hospital employees were infected with coronavirus by attending to patients and then socialising with people in their accommodation.
The decision was taken by the command and control centre in the eastern area in coordination with the Ministry of Health to control the outbreak and adjust the situation.
On Saturday, Eastern Health province announced a doctor died of Covid-19, the third death in the Kingdom due to the pandemic.
Oman’s flight plan
Meanwhile, Oman’s plan to restart domestic and international flights has been prepared by the Ministry of Transport and submitted to the Supreme Committee, the Ministry of Transport announced at a press conference yesterday.
“The aviation sector is one of the most affected sectors, as there is almost complete disruption of commercial operations since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr Ahmad Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport
Oman also announced 604 new coronavirus cases, which brought the total number of cases in the Sultanate to 17,486.
Six more new coronavirus deaths have also been confirmed yesterday, taking the total deaths in the country to 81, up from 75 the previous day.
Kuwait has recorded 662 new cases over the past 24 hours, taking the country’s infection tally to 32,510, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported yesterday. The Health Ministry also announced five more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total such fatalities in the country to 269.
34 deaths in Saudi Arabia, bringing toll to 746
17,486 coronavirus infections in Oman after 604 new cases
662 cases over the last 24 hours takes total to 32,510 in Kuwait