Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia announces 1,000-plus cases for sixth straight day

Kingdom hints at economic reopening 'if health conditions allow'

A date seller in Riyadh wears a protective face mask as he stacks boxes ahead of Ramadan. Reuters

Saudi health authorities announced on Thursday seven more deaths from the coronavirus and a rise in cases above 1,000 for the sixth straight day.

Officials in Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter and only Arab member in the G20, have repeatedly voiced concern about a spike in cases in the kingdom amid what they describe as significant lack of observance of bans on movement.

Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan sounded a cautious note on economic re-opening, saying resumption of business depended on the public health situation in the kingdom.

The government “is conducting intensive studies to reopen economic activity if the health conditions allow”,  Mr Al Jadaan told reporters in Riyadh late on Wednesday.

The approach to any reopening would stress "caution, monitoring and continuous follow-up”, he said.

Saudi authorities have registered 121 deaths from the pandemic and 13,930 cases, the highest death and infection numbers reported in the GCC.

The authorities imposed bans on assembly, movement and mass prayer last month and extended the bans through Ramadan, which is expected to start on Friday.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Guidance instructed mosques on Thursday to refrain from serving iftar meals during Ramadan, emphasising adherence to containment measures against the coronavirus.

The official news agency said the decision also forbids mosques from collecting money to feed people who are fasting and are in need.

Anyone who wishes to donate money should do so through officially recognised charities, the agency said.

The government indicated that a large proportion of the infections recorded was among migrant workers, and launched an online service to assist those wishing to return to their countries.

Saudi Arabia sealed its ports of entry and exit to everyone in early March. Those seeking to leave the kingdom will have to submit their application through an online service called “Awdah”, meaning return in English. It is found in the "Abshar" online programme, the Ministry of Interior said.

The Kuwaiti government said on Thursday it will allow restaurants to deliver food to their customers in Ramadan but they must obtain official permission valid only for the holy month.

Shops selling food are under constant inspection to make sure they do not price-gouge and abide by coronavirus measures, Kiuwait's official news agency said.

The authorities said one more person died from the coronavirus in Kuwait, bringing the country's official death toll from the pandemic to 14.

So far 2,399 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Kuwait, according to official data, after 151 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours.

Bahrain also recorded one death on Thursday. Qatar's Ministry of Health announced 623 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the country's total to 7,764.