Mall, bank closed in Makkah as cases rise
Saudi Arabia reports 3,159 new cases, 51 more deaths and 1,930 recoveries
Authorities in Makkah shut down a major shopping centre and a bank after Covid-19 cases were detected among employees.
The mall, located in Al Azazia district, will be shut for at least a week for sterilisation, according to Saudi online newspaper
Sabq. The bank in the district of Al Shara was closed after one of its employees tested positive.
Another employee contracted the virus after having come in touch with the first and transmitted it to his family.
Saudi Arabia yesterday reported 3,159 new cases, taking total infections to 226,486, while 51 more deaths pushed the toll up to 2,100.
Additionally, 1,930 patients recovered, taking total recoveries to 163,026.
Over 158,000 expats have left Kuwait since March
Meanwhile, over 158,000 expats have left Kuwait since March, with the figure projected to hit 1.5 million by the end of this year, newspaper Al Rai reported yesterday, citing official statistics. Foreigners account for nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s 4.8 million population.
Kuwait, yesterday reported 740 new cases and one death, taking total infections to 53,580 and fatalities in Kuwait to 383.
The health ministry announced that 528 more patients recovered, taking total recoveries to 43,214.
Oman reports eight deaths
Oman reported 1,889 new cases and eight deaths, taking total infections to 53,614 and the toll to 244. Recoveries increased by 1,234 to 34,255.
Oman this week threatened to publish names and photos of violators in the media in an effort to ensure compliance with measures to stem the outbreak.
Qatar reported 520 new cases, 961 recoveries and four deaths. This brings total cases to 102,630, with 98,232 recoveries and 146 deaths.
Israel records highest single-day infections
Israel yesterday recorded 1,464 new cases, the highest single-day tally since it confirmed its first case on February 21.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted in a late Thursday press conference that the decision to allow businesses, including bars and event spaces, to re-open may have been made “too soon”.
The country of roughly nine million has now registered more than 35,500 cases, including 350 deaths.
Various restrictions have been re-imposed, including the closure of venues, clubs, bars, gyms and public pools.
Limits on the number of people allowed in restaurants and places of worship have also been reinstated.
Iran discourages travel to tourist areas as cases spike
Iran yesterday urged Iranians to avoid travelling to two key tourist areas as it announced a drop in daily deaths after a record toll a day earlier.
Khorasan Razavi and Mazandaran are the two top tourist regions in the north.
The country reported 142 more deaths yesterday, down from 221 on Thursday — a single-day record. A further 2,262 new infections were also recorded, bringing total cases in the country to 252,720, including 12,447 deaths.