Saudi Gazette Report

RIYADH - The daily number of people infected with the COVID-19 virus is witnessing a significant and unprecedented increase, but the critical cases are much lower with an obvious difference from the previous stages, the spokesman of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdali said.

The Health Ministry spokesman, at the press conference here on Sunday, pointed out that the countries experiencing a rise in critical cases were the ones that did not complete their doses and refused to keep pace with vaccination campaigns.

The epidemiological curve in the Kingdom monitors a decrease in the pace of acceleration, he said, while stressing that the number of cases will record a drop soon.

According to the Health Ministry, the new COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia stayed above the 5,000-mark with 5,477 new infections recorded over the past 24 hours, and among the active cases 336 of them were in critical condition.

Saudi Arabia has administered 53 million doses of the vaccines till date since the start of vaccination.

Dr. Al-Abdali noted that the booster dose is given only to those aged 16 years and over, and it will not be given to those under the age of 16 except after the confirmation and approval from the Kingdom’s committees and specialists.

The health spokesman stressed on the new COVID-19 stage identity that launched earlier: "Our immunity is life", which means strengthening our immunity by completing doses, and by adhering to precautionary measures and repelling rumours.

It is noteworthy that The Saudi Center for International Communication (CIC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Health has launched on Sunday the unified verbal and visual media identity, "Our immunity is life." as the new identity for the third phase of awareness campaigns that helps in keeping pace with the updates of the COVID-19.