Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — After a continuous 8-day decline in the number of coronavirus infections in the Kingdom when they remained less than 2,000, the health ministry on Wednesday reported 2,171 new cases.

This has raised the total number of cases to 91,182, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) cited a ministry statement as saying. A total of 2,205 infections were reported on May 25 and the figure hovered between 1,581 and 1,881 since the next day.

The Kingdom’s recovery rate, meanwhile, is over 74 percent with 68,159 individuals having recovered so far. Saudi Arabia has also seen a relatively low death toll with 579 fatalities recorded.

Of the currently active 22,444 cases, 1,321 are in critical conditions, the ministry statement said.

Riyadh with 683 cases topped the list of new infections on Wednesday. It was followed by 418 cases in Jeddah, 279 in Makkah, 167 in Madinah and 133 in Dammam. There were 85 cases in Taif, 70 in Qatif, 54 in Al-Khobar, 31 in Hufof, 26 in Jubail, 25 in Khamis Mushayt, and 12 each in Yanbu, Sabya, Al-Muwayh and Mazahmiah and 10 in Ras Tanura. The rest of the cases were scattered in different small cities and governorates, the statement added.

The Kingdom recently began lifting restrictions including allowing movement for residents within the country and travel between its provinces. More shops, including wholesale, retail and malls, have also been allowed to reopen, as long as all precautionary measures are adhered to.

Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah last week said Saudi Arabia does not plan to return to lockdowns and further restrictions. However, he said, this depends largely on society’s knowledge and compliance with precautionary measures in order to resume lifting restrictions.

“We are in the same boat,” Al-Rabiah said. “If we all comply, then we will make it to safety. [Whoever doesn’t comply] will take us back [to restrictions].”

Al-Rabiah said Saudi Arabia continues to pursue the best available treatments, and if a vaccine become available, the Kingdom will strive to provide it as soon as possible.

In a tweet late Tuesday, Dr. Rabiah said transmission of COVID-19 will be significantly reduced If everyone commits to wearing a mask when going out. He urged everyone to comply with healthy precautionary measures, and asked them to remind those not adhering to the regulations.