Saudi Arabia says cases of Covid-19 higher among women than men

Nearly 55 per cent of the recently reported infected cases are among women in the country

A man shows his details using the Tawakkalna app on his mobile phone as he enters the Al Othaim market in Riyadh. Reuters

Cases of Covid-19 are higher in women than men in Saudi Arabia because they are less likely to be vaccinated against the deadly virus, the kingdom’s health ministry said on Sunday.

The kingdom has reported a spike in cases during the last few weeks with daily cases reaching nearly 1,000 in comparison to less than 500 per day last month.

Nearly 55 per cent of the recently reported cases are among women in the country due to a lack of female demand for getting vaccinated, Dr Mohammed Al Abdul Ali, assistant Minister of Health and the ministry’s spokesman said.

“There has also been a surge in the number of women who have been admitted to intensive care units after their conditions turned critical,” Dr Ali said.

Women’s uptake of the vaccine is “below the expected level”, he said.

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  A nurse administers a Covid-19 vaccine at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh. AFP

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  A nurse checks the temperature of a man before administering a dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in the Saudi Arabian capital. AFP

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  A nurse prepares a dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Saudi Arabia's capital city of Riyadh. AFP

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  People register for vaccination at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, before receiving a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. AFP

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  Saudis are greeted by a health worker as they enter the coronavirus vaccination centre at the Jeddah old airport in Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

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  People gather outside the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre before receiving a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Riyadh. AFP

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  People leave the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre after receiving a dose of vaccine against Covid-19, in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. AFP

Dr Ali urged all citizens and residents to ensure they get the vaccination to prevent the virus from spreading and to ensure their health condition does not deteriorate if they catch it.

“The condition of all those who have previously taken it, both male and female from different age groups, is reassuring and they have not developed any health problems or unexpected symptoms so far,” he said.

The increased number of cases “is worrying,” he said, adding that case numbers are higher than at the beginning of the year due to a lack of commitment in getting the vaccine.

Saudi Arabia has given more than seven million doses of coronavirus vaccines to citizens and residents as part of its immunisation drive.

The health ministry said vaccines were given at more than 587 sites across the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia approved the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines in January to speed up the inoculation campaign.

Prior to the new year, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was in use.

Those wishing to get a vaccine can do so by applying through the Tawakkalna mobile app.

The development comes as the country's interior ministry warned it would reimpose health measures such as quarantining and isolating cities and neighbourhoods if public negligence continues.

“Despite the efforts taken by the government to curb the spread of the virus and ensuring that the public’s health is a priority, we are still seeing many citizens and residents not adhering to the measures imposed,” Talal Al Shalhoub, an interior ministry spokesman said late Sunday.

Mr Al Shalhoub said those who violate isolation or quarantine measures will face a maximum fine of SR200,000 or imprisonment of two years, or of both.

"In the event of repeating the violation, the penalty will be doubled,” he said.

The total number of infected cases in Saudi Arabia currently stands at 404,970 while fatalities from the virus have reached 6,823.