COVID-19 Follow-up Committee Affirms Importance of Adhering to Curfew Order
Saudi Press Agency
Thursday 1441/8/9 - 2020/04/02
Riyadh, April 02, 2020, SPA -- The committee concerned with following up the health situation of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) held here today its 43rd meeting under chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah in the presence of the committee's members representing a number of relevant governmental entities.
The committee reviewed the reports and developments of the virus as well as the epidemiological situation of the virus worldwide including the confirmed cases in the Kingdom and assuring their health situations, affirming the importance of continuation of applying and enhancing all precautionary measures at all entry ports as well as all precautionary measures to confront and contain the virus.
The committee hailed the current commitment of everyone to the curfew order, calling on them to stay at home except in case of necessity.
Following the meeting, Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aali, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, and Lt. Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub, Security Spokesperson of the Interior Ministry, held a joint press conference.
The Spokesperson of the Health Ministry reported that the total number of confirmed cases with the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world amounted to 952,000, adding that 202,000 cases recovered so far. He disclosed that the number of deaths reached 48,000.
"As many as 165 new cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in the Kingdom, including two travel-linked cases who are isolated since their arrival to the Kingdom's ports. Other cases are recorded recently for persons who were in contact with previous cases. All the cases are under health observation," he added.
The confirmed cases covered many cities in the Kingdom, he said, citing 48 in Madinah, 46 in Makkah, 30 in Jeddah, nine in Al-Khafji, seven in Riyadh, six in Khamis Mushait, five in Qatif, four in each of Dammam and Dhahran, two in Abha and one in each of Ras Tanoura, Khobar, Ahad Rufida and Bisha.
The Health Spokesperson stated that the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom are 1,885, including 1536 diagnosed as active, adding that there are a number of recovered cases.
He announced five new deaths as follows: two residents in Madinah, a female citizen in Madinah, a resident in Dammam and a male citizen in Khamis Mushait, bringing to 21 the total number of deaths in the Kingdom.
The total number of new recovered cases reached 64, bringing to 328 the total recoverees.
Dr. Al-Abd Al-Aali highlighted the preemptive steps being taken by the Kingdom to maintain protection and health security of the society, including health control in entrances, halting gatherings, society activities and festivals. However, distance education and e-remote work are activated, he added.
" All these powerful and important steps taken by the Kingdom have resulted in excellent progress in fighting the epidemic, compared with advanced countries around the world.
"We are all responsible to invest all these precautionary and preventive measures and keep the current graph of losses going down through our commitment and adherence to these steps. So, if we falter or abandon our commitment to these steps, we may lose one of our youths, elder people, or one of our loved ones. This is our responsibility to protect ourselves and our society," he said.
He called on everyone, who has symptoms or would like to assess, to use the self-assessment service in MAWID electronic application, and inquire or consult the Health Center (937) around the clock.
For his part, the security spokesman of the Interior Ministry Lt. Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub stressed the need to strict commitment of citizens and residents to the self-quarantine and not leaving homes unless for emergency, a license given even during curfew.
The complete lockdown in the two cities of Makkah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah around the clock, effective today until further notice, is part of the government's efforts to curb the effects of the new coronavirus and in implementation of the health authorities recommendations pertaining to upgrading the degree of precautionary and preventive measures, Al-Shalhoub said, citing the interior ministry's statement, transmitted ealier today by SPA.
He reiterated that the bodies exempted from the curfew to enter the isolated areas were shown in previous orders on the official media.
He offered the number 999 throughout the country and the number 911 for Makkah region for people requesting to report on something urgent about the situation.
--SPA
21:52 LOCAL TIME 18:52 GMT
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