Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 7 new deaths as cases approach 30,000

GCC states urge public to abide by measures aimed at curbing the disease

A security guard checks the temperature of a man at a shopping mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Seven people died on Monday in Saudi Arabia from the novel coronavirus as the country’s infected cases topped 28,000.

The number of new cases announced was 1,645, bringing the total to 28,656, with 191 deaths.

Saudi authorities have reported over 1,000 new Covid-19 infections per day since mid April, when the number of cases was about 7,000.

The ministry said that 342 people recovered from the virus, raising the total number of recoveries to 4,476.

There are 143 patients in intensive care, a ministry spokesperson said.

Health authorities said several hospitals across the kingdom have begun testing a convalescent plasma treatment for the virus.

The procedure includes using blood of recovered individuals, who are thought to have antibodies in their system, on infected patients.

The country is continuing with widespread testing while gradually lifting restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the health ministry said on Monday.

A ministry representative urged the public to abide by government regulations such as wearing facemasks and maintaining social distancing practices.

Other GCC states also reported new cases of the virus.

Oman said that 69 new cases of the virus emerged on Monday, bringing the total to  2637, the health ministry said.

The new cases include 37 Omanis and 58 expatriates.

In recent weeks, the country had eased some coronavirus measures by lifting checkpoints put in place to restrict movements between provinces and permitting some businesses to reopen.

Oman has recorded 12 deaths and 816 recoveries.

The government said on Monday that it was closing the "Grand Valley Industrial Zone" in Muscat.

The decision is in line with the supreme coronavirus committee and aims to curb the spread of the disease, the municipality of Muscat said in a statement.

The municipality urged the public to fully co-operate and adhere to the preventive measures put in place to maintain the public's health.

Oman's health ministry reiterated the call and said the public must "fully comply with self isolation regulations and not leave their houses except for emergencies and urgent matters."
New cases were reported in Qatar on Monday, health authorities found 647 infected patients, bringing the total to 16,

No new deaths were reported but 19 people recovered during the last 24 hours, bringing the total recoveries to 1,810.

Qatar’s death toll stands at 12.

Two people died from the disease in Kuwait, bringing the total to 40 fatalities.

The latest cases were a Kuwaiti man and three other expatriates, health ministry spokesman Abdullah Al Sanad said.

Mr Al Sanad said that 295 new cases emerged, bringing the overall to 5,278,

The total number of recoveries stood at 1,947 in total after 171 patients recovered during the last 24 hours.

Kuwaiti security officials broke up a riot by Egyptian workers seeking repatriation after being held in special housing units for violations of the country's residence law, Kuwait's Ministry of Interior said on Monday.

Security officials intervened after "riots and chaos" and seized a number of people who would face legal measures, the statement said.

Representatives of the Egyptian embassy in Kuwait attended the shelter and told workers that they would begin preparing schedules for their return flights this week, the statement said. The Egyptian embassy also apologised for the riots, it said.