Saudi Arabia’s deaths top 1,000 as cases spike
INFECTIONS CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE KINGDOM
Gulf News Report
The number of coronavirus deaths in Saudi Arabia surpassed 1,000 yesterday, the health ministry said, amid a new surge in infections just weeks ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage.
The death toll climbed to 1,011 as the total number of infections rose to 132,048, the highest in the Gulf, according to data from the ministry.
The kingdom has seen infections spike after it eased stringent lockdown measures, with the number of daily cases exceeding 4,000 for the second day in a row yesterday.
Saudi Arabia announced 39 deaths, and 4,507 new coronavirus cases. Riyadh registered the highest number of infections, with 1,658 new cases.
Intensive care units in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah are crowded with coronavirus patients, putting pressure on the health care system, two medical sources told AFP.
After an easing of precautions in the kingdom in late May, the ministry said recently that strict measures could also soon return to Riyadh, which was “witnessing a continuous increase during the last (few) days” of critical coronavirus cases.
The kingdom has said the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah will remain suspended over fears of the coronavirus pandemic spreading in Islam’s holiest cities.
Three more deaths
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health revealed the detection of 1,274 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 80,876.
According to the ministry’s daily update, three more people have died from the Covid-19 virus, taking the country’s death toll to 76.
The ministry also revealed the full recovery of 1,783 infected patients over the last 24 hours, pushing the total number of recovered cases to 58,681.
According to a statement by the ministry, 22,119 are active cases, including 1,173 who are critical, who are still receiving medication at various medical facilities across the country.
Kuwait has confirmed 511 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the country’s infection tally to 36,431, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported yesterday.
The Health Ministry also announced two more deaths from Covid-19, taking the total such fatalities in the country to 298.
Bahrain confirmed another 317 new coronavirus infections yesterday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 18,544, according to the Ministry of Health.