Saudi authorities vow to take ‘drastic’ steps to check virus spread

Saudi authorities vow to take ‘drastic’ steps to check virus spread

RIYADH: As the holy month of Ramadan reaches the halfway point, Saudi health authorities are warning citizens to avoid large gatherings and to follow important anti-coronavirus guidelines, including social distancing. Both the ministries of interior and health have repeatedly warned Saudis of the consequences of ignoring safety procedures, saying that authorities are prepared to take "drastic measures" and do "whatever is necessary" to curb coronavirus outbreaks in the Kingdom. The Saudi Ministry of Health announced 958 new coronavirus cases today, 1, 047 new recoveries and 13 coronavirus-related deaths. Factoring in today's numbers, the Kingdom's total case count has risen to 413, 174 cases overall, with 396, 604 total recoveries and 6, 913 deaths over the course of the pandemic. The Riyadh region continued to report the highest number of cases, with 364 recorded today. It was followed by the Makkah region with 234 and the Eastern Province with 145. The regions reporting the lowest number of new cases were Najran with 10, Jouf with eight and Baha with seven. “¢ The Kingdom's recovery rate is still holding steady at 95. 9 percent. The total number of active cases in the Kingdom declined to 9, 657, but severe cases remain high