Riyadh, May 14: The Ministry of Health said yesterday that it had stopped the spread of coronavirus from Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province to other parts of the Kingdom.
The virus had reached Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, but not further incidences have been reported.
“No new cases of the virus were found in any part of the Kingdom,” Dr. Ziad Al-Memish, undersecretary to the Ministry of Health for Public Health, told Arab News.
So far, the Kingdom has reported 24 cases of the virus, including nine fatal cases. The recent cases included two men aged 48 and 58.
The first patient, a 48-year-old man with multiple coexisting medical conditions, became ill on April 29, and is in stable condition, while the latter fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital May 3 after falling ill on April 6. Al-Memish said the ministry has taken all precautions against the spread of the disease.
However, he added that in keeping with the transparency policy, the ministry would keep the public informed of all developments in this matter.
Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general of WHO’s Health Security and Environment, who visited the Eastern Province on Saturday, said the Kingdom has taken the coronavirus situation seriously and the Saudi Ministry of Health has initiated public health actions, including intensifying surveillance, initiating investigations and ensuring control measures are in place.
“One of the reasons why more cases have been identified in the Kingdom may be because they have gone ahead to strengthen their surveillance system and lab capacity and network,” he said. “We know that the disease is caused by a virus from a group called coronaviruses.”
He said one member of the coronavirus family is the SARS virus. This new virus is not the SARS virus. He said the virus has infected people since 2012.
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Coronavirus is ‘not spreading’
May 14, 2013
Saudi: Those spreading fake news to face huge fine, 5 years’ jail
News Network
May 3,2020
Jeddah, May 3: Saudis and expats who spread rumors on social media could be jailed for up to five years and fined SR3 million ($800,000) under measures to counter false information regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
The move follows warnings by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques and other government entities that people should rely on trusted news sources and not third parties for information on the Kingdom’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Saudi Public Prosecutor warned that legal action will be taken against individuals who spread misinformation and rumors.
On Saturday, media spokesman for the Riyadh region police, Col. Shakir Al-Tuwaijri, highlighted a video circulating on social media in which a person spreads rumors about steps taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Other false claims include a planned change in curfew hours, warnings of food shortages, and a suggestion that health authorities are deliberately concealing the number of cases in the Kingdom.
In a recent case, a Riyadh resident claimed to know when worshippers will be allowed to return to the Grand Mosque.
All suspects have been arrested and face legal action, police said.
Dimah Al-Sharif, a Saudi legal counsel and member of the International Association of Lawyers, urged people to be responsible regarding content they access on social media.
“Receivers should not save such content or share it with others, and should delete it if possible since they, too, will be liable,” she said.
“Under Saudi laws to counter cyber-crime, we are not allowed to produce, prepare, send or save any unauthorized content or rumors.”
Individuals who breach regulations can be jailed for up to five years and face fines of SR3 million, as well as confiscation of the device(s) used in the crime, she said.
In addition, the judicial ruling will be published in newspapers at the offender’s expense.
The Kingdom’s Public Prosecution Office took to social media to warn users about the consequences of spreading rumors and misinformation.
@bip_ksa tweeted: “Receiving information from its official sources is a moral obligation and commitment, and legal responsibility. Do not fall victim to malicious rumors and news from anonymous sources that violate the procedures and effort, and cause terror regarding the Coronavirus, in order to avoid strict criminal accountability in this regard.”
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Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia confirms 2nd death, 900 infections
News Network
March 25,2020
Riyadh, Mar 25: A 46-year-old man died of coronavirus in Saudi Arabia, becoming the Kingdom’s second death, according to a health ministry’s spokesman.
The health ministry recorded 133 new infections, bringing the total to 900.
Of those newly confirmed cases, 18 are associated with recent travel, and were placed in quarantine upon their arrival in the Kingdom, the spokesman said.
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After discharging from hospital, Saudi King Salman tweets Eid Al Adha greetings
Agencies
July 31,2020
Dubai, Jul 31: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia tweeted early on Friday sending congratulations to everyone on Eid Al Adha.
"I congratulate everyone on the blessed Eid Al Adha. May Allah [grant us another Eid where we will be in] good, blessings, health, and wellness," King Salman said.
"We also ask [God] to accept the pilgrimage of those who completed Haj, and [to accept] Muslims' prayers, and to remove the coronavirus pandemic in our countries," he added.
King Salman left King Faisal hospital in Riyadh after recovering on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday.
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