Coronavirus: Saudi cases drop below 400 for first time since April

Fall in daily infections comes amid easing of restrictions in the kingdom

Pilgrims keep a safe social distance as they perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on October 3, 2020. Ministry of Hajj and Umrah via Reuters

Saudi Arabia's daily tally of new coronavirus infections fell below 400 for the first time in nearly six months this week, down from a peak of nearly 5,000 cases reported on June 17.

The kingdom reported 390 new cases on Sunday and 379 on Monday, continuing a gradual downward trend despite a gradual easing of containment measures.

In the latest move, authorities allowed the resumption of Umrah pilgrimages from Sunday with participation restricted to 6,000 people a day in the first phase, and only from within the country.

None of those who have taken part so far have developed symptoms of Covid-19, the Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Abdel-Fattah Mashat, said on Monday.

The total number of infections in the kingdom since March stands at 336,766, while the death toll rose by 23 to 4,898, according to the health ministry update on Monday. Another 570 patients recovered, taking the total recoveries to 322,055.

The situation is a stark contrast to Iran, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, which reported a record 3,902 cases on Monday along with 235 deaths. Iran has had 475,674 confirmed cases of Covid-19 so far, of which more than 27,000 have been fatal.

Meanwhile, Oman became the fourth GCC country after Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait to record more than 100,000 Covid-19 cases, with the latest figures from the health ministry showing that 101,270 people had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Sunday, of whom 90,296 had recovered and 977 died.

The sultanate has witnessed a surge infections since last month, leaving hospital struggling to cope. The health ministry said 560 patients had been admitted for treatment, of whom more than 200 were in intensive care.

“It is important that everyone adhere to regulations and this cannot be taken lightly. Safety for one is safety for all. We cannot relax and go on with life as if the pandemic is over. It is not. It is still here and we need to remember that all the time,” a ministry of health statement said.