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Fakeih visits more hospitals as WHO reviews Saudi data

May 11, 2014

Jeddah/Riyadh, May 11: The Ministry of Health has issued an advisory stating that face masks should be worn by patients who have been diagnosed with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), as well as people who come into regular contact with patients, such as family members and medical staff.

Fakeih_WHOThe advisory, issued via SMS to residents, followed a meeting held between local and international experts in Riyadh about the virus, which killed another six people on Saturday and infected seven others, the ministry announced.

Six other MERS patients reportedly recovered the same day.

The deaths were reported in Jeddah, Riyadh and Madinah, while new cases have been diagnosed in Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah.

Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih, meanwhile, called on coronavirus patients in Madinah’s hospitals.

Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general for health security at the World Health Organization (WHO), said team members, who had just returned from the Kingdom, were still sorting through the data shared by the Saudi Health Ministry.

According to reports in foreign media, Fukuda called for the need to test not just sick people, but seemingly healthy individuals, for the MERS infection.

He said the sweeping surge in MERS cases over the past five weeks appears to be due, in large part, to problems with infection control mechanisms at some of the Kingdom’s hospitals.

Fukuda said Saudi officials cooperated fully with the WHO team during their visit.

Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director, said the ministry is doing its best to spread awareness about the coronavirus.

Badawood said: “Though a cure has yet to be found for MERS, recovery rates are improving. Around 30 percent of patients have been fully cured from the disease.”

“Spreading awareness about the do’s and dont’s involved in fighting this virus is of utmost importance,” he said. “Taking correct precautionary measures is important and the Health Ministry is using every media channel to spread awareness among members of the public.”

He said: “Even on the community level, doctors are visiting schools and advising children on how to avoid catching the virus.”

MERS symptoms include fever, coughing, shortness of breath, nose and throat congestion and, in some cases, diarrhea.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Makkah, Jul 31: Organising this year's scaled-down hajj required "double efforts" by Saudi authorities amid the coronavirus pandemic, King Salman said Friday after being discharged from hospital following gall bladder surgery.

Only up to 10,000 people already residing in the kingdom are participating in this year's pilgrimage, compared with 2019's gathering of some 2.5 million from around the world.

"Holding the ritual in the shadow of this pandemic... required reducing the numbers of pilgrims, but it obliged various official agencies to put in double efforts," 84-year-old King Salman said in a speech read out on state television by acting media minister Majid Al-Qasabi.

"The hajj this year was restricted to a very limited number of people from multiple nationalities, ensuring the ritual was completed despite the difficult circumstances," he said.

The speech came on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice, a day after the king left hospital following a 10-day stay for surgery to remove his gall bladder.

The hajj, which began on Wednesday, is one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime.

Authorities implemented the "highest health precautions" during the rituals, the king said.

Pilgrims, who were all tested for the virus, are required to wear masks and observe social distancing.

For Friday's "stoning of the devil", the last major ritual of the hajj, Saudi authorities offered the pilgrims pebbles that were sanitised to protect against the pandemic.

In a sign that its strict measures were working, the health ministry reported no coronavirus cases in the holy sites on Wednesday or Thursday.

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News Network
April 29,2020

Dubai, Apr 29: Saudi Arabia reported 1,325 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 21,402, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday (April 28).

Meanwhile, the ministry reported 169 recoveries today, with total recoveries in the kingdom at 2,953. There are 125 cases in intensive care.

The ministry also confirmed 5 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to 157.

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KT
April 13,2020

Dubai, Apr 13: The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) on Monday announced 172 new recoveries in the country, taking the total recoveries to 852 cases.

"With today's 172 cases, the total number of fully recovered Covid-19 patients has become 852, while three residents of different nationalities were declared dead, taking the total number of deaths to 25," Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the ministry, said.

"We have also carried out up to 23,380 new tests on Monday all over the country."

Also read: UAE residency, visit visas valid until end-2020

Dr Hosani said His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has launched the national home-based testing programme for determined people, be they nationals or residents.

"The program, targeting this important segment of the society who have difficulty doing tests outdoors, is part of the national drive-through testing national program."

Addressing some baseless rumours that are viral on social media, Dr Al Hosani confirmed that no one can fix a date for the peak of infected cases.

"So many studies have affirmed that physical distancing is so critical in reducing not only the number of Cobid-19 new cases but also the infection curve."

Dr Al Hosani advised the public to wear gloves whenever they go out. "However, do not touch your personal stuff when wearing gloves, particularly when using your phone, and safely dispose of them."

It is still so critical to clean your hands with water and soap on a regular basis, she underlined. "Cleaning and washing our hands are much better and safer than wearing gloves."

Wearing one-time disposable surgical gloves is highly advisable, she said. "If not available, hand-made cloth masks can be used but need to be cleaned regularly with water and soap."

Masks should be worn properly covering the nose, mouth and the chin, she pointed out. "Do not touch the internal or external parts of the face masks, while the blue colour side must be always outward."

Priority in drive-through tests are given for those with respiratory issues, senior people, and pregnant women, she said in answer to a question raised by media people.

"If you are developing no Covid-19 infection symptoms and just wish to make sure you are sound, you need to book an appointment, be aware that it will cost you Dh370."

"If developing minor symptoms, the public is urged to stay home and call any of these toll-free numbers for help: (800011111), (8001717), (800342)."

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