Saudi launches kingdom-wide flu vaccination drive

November 5, 2014

Saudi vaccination Riyadh, Nov 5: The Ministry of Health will launch a Kingdom-wide vaccination campaign against the seasonal flu today.

Health Ministry Spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani said the vaccination is suitable for people of all age groups including health officials, pregnant women, patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, renal problems, heart and thoracic diseases.

The flu shots will be available in all government hospitals and some 2,000 primary health care centers free-of-charge throughout the country. Health officials will visit schools to vaccinate children in the institutions. He added that the ministry would also carry out a health awareness campaign aimed at educating the masses on the importance of such vaccines during the onset of winter.

Speaking to Arab News, the director general of the Jeddah Directorate of Health Affairs in Jeddah, Dr. Sami Ba-Dawood, said the program is targeted to combat seasonal influenza that erupts during the cold season. However, he added that the seasonal flu can have other interactions with viruses such as MERS. “A timely flu shot could help prevent from influenza as well as it could prevent serious consequences of the fever,” he added.

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and an influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.

During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older. “Flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May.

Meanwhile, the ministry announced two more fresh cases of MERS corona virus in Riyadh on Tuesday, bringing the total to 793 during the past two years.

Since June 2012, 338 MERS-related deaths were reported in the Kingdom. According to reports, the total number of people who recovered fully from the disease stood at 440, while 15 are currently receiving treatment in hospitals in various parts of the Kingdom.

The most recent MERS patients were a Saudi woman and an expatriate man, who were aged 31 and 33, respectively, in the capital. The majority of the recent MERS cases occurred in Taif, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Jouf, Najran, Hofuf, Hafr Al-Batain and Jubail.

In consideration of the rise in sporadic cases of the virus in some parts of the Kingdom, the ministry has reiterated its appeal to the public to take preventive measures against the virus. It has advised people to avoid contact with camels and refrain from visiting MERS infected persons. Basic hygiene such as handwashing should be strictly followed before meals.

The ministry launched a Kingdom-wide awareness campaign on MERS corona virus in cooperation with the World Health Organization directly after Labor Minister Adel Fakeih took over duties as acting health minister.

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Guidelines for reopening of mosques in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Gazette

May 27,2020

Riyadh, May 27: Following the announcement of easing of lockdown measures, which includes reopening of all mosques for daily congressional as well as Friday prayers across the Kingdom except the holy city of Makkah, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has set mandatory guidelines.

In a circular issued to mosque staff, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh has instructed that all mosques must comply with the following precautionary measures and instructions:

1. Open mosques 15 minutes before the Adhan and close them 10 minutes after prayer

2. Reduce the waiting period between the Adhan and Iqamah to 10 minutes

3. Open windows and doors from entering time to the end of the prayer

4. Remove copies of Holy Qur’an and other books temporarily from mosques

5. Ensure attendees keep a distance of two meters between each other

6. Ensure one space is left between each row

7. Close all water coolers and refrigerators

8. Do not allow distribution of water or food in mosques

9. Close toilets and places of ablution

Precautionary measures on Friday prayers are as follows:

1. Open mosques 20 minutes before Friday prayer and closing them 20 minutes after prayer.

2. Friday sermon with prayer should not exceed 15 minutes.

The circular also stipulates to keep the suspension of the religious courses, programs and lectures, as well as the memorizing Holy Qur'an sessions in the mosques and to continue education and lectures remotely until further notice.

The circular pointed out that the imams of mosques should urge the worshipers to take the following precautionary measures:

1. Wear a face mask

2. Bring their own prayer rugs and not leave them after the prayer

3. Prevent accompanying children under 15 years of age from entering mosques

4. Perform ablution at home

5. Avoid crowding when entering or exiting mosques

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior clarified later in the day that people are allowed to perform congressional prayers in their locality during the time of curfew.

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Hosting ‘limited’ hajj required double efforts amid pandemic: Saudi king

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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Saudi govt asks expats to cancel final exit, reentry visas

News Network

March 24,2020

Riyadh, Mar 24: General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) on Tuesday asked all expatriates in the Kingdom, who have a final exit visa or an exit and reentry visa, to quickly cancel them before their expiry. This is to avoid the prescribed fines for not availing of these visas before their expiry date, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The new measure was taken following the Saudi government’s suspension of international flights as part of the preventive and precautionary measures to stem the spread of new coronavirus. The Jawazat asked expatriates to verify the validity of such visas and cancel them through Ministry of Interior’s electronic service portals of Absher or Muqeem.

It underlined the need to adhere to the regulations and instructions in order to avoid fines prescribed by law against the violators.

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My reentry expair date 26-03-2020 plz help me