Saudi Arabia on Monday announced its first case of the new coronavirus as the country steps up measures to contain the spread.
The infected person had come from Iran through Bahrain, a report in the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.
“Within the framework of the precautionary measures, the ministry sent an infection control team to examine the citizen and to take samples for laboratory tests and it was confirmed that he was infected with the virus. The citizen has been quarantined in the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment,” the ministry said.
The statement also added that so far 290 people in the kingdom have been tested for the virus but only the one case has been detected.
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“We have raised the level of health readiness to enhance prevention from the disease,” Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah said. “We have formed a committee comprising 17 various authorities to monitor the situation. We are also working as one system to prevent infections and be prepared to deal with the disease in case of any appearance.”
Several countries in the region have reported coronavirus infections in people who have visited Iran. These include Kuwait, whose health ministry on Monday reported 10 new cases in the last 24 hours, all of whom had been in Iran. The Gulf Arab state has now reported 56 cases of the virus.
Dh1 million in emergency medical supplies were flown from Dubai to Iran on Monday to help doctors stem the spread of coronavirus in the Islamic Republic where 1,501 have been infected and 66 have died, including a senior official.
Saudi Arabia has been preparing for its first case through the last week, closing the country to many visitors and pilgrims.
The government on Monday launched an electronic service to refund umrah fees after entry to pilgrims was suspended last week amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak.
The refunds will be made electronically through umrah agents in the pilgrims’ respective countries, the SPA said.
The country, which is home to Islam's two holiest sites, announced last Thursday that it would be imposing a ban on foreigners coming to the kingdom for the umrah pilgrimage, which can take place at any time of the year. Over 8 million people undertook umrah last year.
The move is a first for Saudi Arabia, where religious sites remained open even during past virus outbreaks such as the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic that killed between 20 and 50 million worldwide.
It also placed a ban on tourists from at least 25 countries where the virus has been found.
They include China, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Kazakhstan.
Officials in the kingdom say the ban is temporary, although no date has been given for lifting the restrictions.
It also raises the possibility that Saudi Arabia will drastically curtail or cancel the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah at the end of July if the spread of the virus continues. Such a move would be unprecedented.
The kingdom's health ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdelali told a news conference on Monday that 25 hospitals have been prepared to handle any cases that might be detected in the country.
Mr Abdelali said that 2,200 hospital beds were set aside for quarantine requirements.
The coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has hit worldwide and infected more than 89,000 people in almost 60 countries.
The SPA also reported that the kingdom’s Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al Sheikh directed Mosques across the country to dedicate sermons at Friday prayers this week to discuss how to deal with infectious diseases including coronavirus and educating people on the latest government advice on how to stop the spread.
At the Grand Mosque in Makka, authorities have stepped up sterilisation and cleaning to stop the spread of the virus. They have increased the frequency of cleaning and begun spraying floors, surfaces and carpets with disinfectant. Hand sanitizer has also been placed at various points around the site.
