Al-Rabeeah: No new coronavirus infections among pilgrims

Saeed Al-Khotani
Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Minister of Health Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said no further cases of coronavirus infections have been detected after two Saudis and a citizen from a Gulf country were infected by the virus.

He added: “The overall health condition of pilgrims is very good and there is nothing to worry about.”

He was speaking during a tour of the health observation center at King Abdulaziz International Airport Friday.

He also visited the arrival hall for pilgrims and administered the oral polio vaccine to pilgrims.

The ministry said it has vaccinated over 362,000 pilgrims arriving at the airport against polio as of Thursday. At least another 209,000 were given other treatments.

Al-Rabeeah also visited the new North Jeddah Hospital that is under construction and inspected the progress of work on the project.

In Madinah, Director General of the local Cardiologic Diseases and Surgeries Center Dr. Osama Al-Amoudi said the center treated 235 patients, of whom 34 were pilgrims.

Twenty-four of these pilgrims were given open heart surgery and catheterization.

Al-Amoudi added: "All sections of the center that operate round the clock were prepared to serve pilgrims.

“The pharmacy at the center has administered medicine to over 550 pilgrims of different nationalities and the lab has conducted over 1,010 tests, a 50 percent increase on last year.”