On Sunday morning, the COVID-19 Monitoring Committee held its 81st meeting. Chaired by the Minister of Health, Dr. Tawfik bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the meeting was attended by the committee members, who represent the relevant government agencies. During the meeting, all relevant COVID-19 updates and reports were reviewed. The Committee has discussed the global epidemiological situation, as well as the cases reported locally and their health condition. All precautionary measures carried out at the points of entry into the Kingdom will continue in full, the Committee stressed, and will be further tightened. Meanwhile, the Committee commended the citizens’ compliance with the curfew, and called on them to stay home, and refrain from going unless necessary.
The meeting was followed by a joint press conference, the participants in which included Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdulaali, Assistant Minister of Health and MOH spokesman, and Mr. Yasser Al-Misfer, Ministry of Transport (MOT) spokesman. The MOH spokesman mentioned that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has jumped to 4,041,520 cases, of which 1,381,527 cases have recovered to date. As for the COVID-19 death toll, it has jumped to 279,593.
Besides, 1,912 new confirmed cases were reported in the Kingdom, distributed as follows: 438 in Makkah, 374 in Jeddah, 363 in Riyadh, 248 in Madinah, 104 in Madinah, 72 in Hofuf, 52 in Al-Qunfudah, 40 in Wehda, 30 in Al-Jubail, 28 in Taif, 20 in Bish, 16 in Al-Qatif, 14 in Yanbu, 13 in Al-Majmaah, 9 in Sebia, 8 in Al-Dhahran, 8 in Tabuk, 7 in Mahayel Assir, 7 in Al-Deriya, 6 in Al-Khobar, 5 in Al-Qurayyat, 4 in Abha, 4 in Burayda, 4 in Wadi Al-Far’, 4 in Hael, 4 in Al-Kharj, 3 in Al-Majardah, 3 in Rafhaa, 3 in Houtet Bani Tamim, 3 in Al-Dalam, 2 in Khamis Misheit, 2 in Al-Baha, 2 in Hafr Al-Batin, 2 in Al-Quwaiiyah, and one case in Al-Qurai’, Al-Qar’a, Baljurashi, Khulais, Al-Muzeilef, Najran, Tabarjal, Jadedat Arar, and Dharmaa.
This brings the total COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom to 39,048 cases, including 27,345 active cases, receiving the medical care they may be in need of. Of these, there are 143 critical cases, whereas the health condition of the rest is stable.
Of the 1,912 cases reported today, 25% are Saudi citizens, and 75% are non-Saudi residents. About 21% of the cases are females, and 79% are males. Only 3% of the reported cases are older persons, 8% are children, and 89% are adults. The number of new recoveries has amounted to 1,313, bringing the total recoveries to date to 11,457. And 7 new deaths were reported, bringing the total deaths to 246. All new deaths are non-Saudis: 4 in Jeddah, 2 in Riyadh, and one death in Makkah.
Dr. Al-Abdulaali noted that some of the most important table manners that ensure a healthy way of eating include washing hands, leaving a safe distance at the dining table, and using only personal tools and kitchen utensils. Additionally, each person must eat from their plate. It is also important that each individual obtains his share of healthy nutrition and enough liquids, especially water. "Even though sitting together at the dining table in Ramadan is a nice social habit, it should not make us forget social distancing to avoid being exposed to danger," he added. In the case of a COVID-19 infection, the following three basic steps must be taken: isolating the infected person from others to protect them, contacting 937 to obtain the necessary instructions and recommendations, and assessing the person's condition through ‘Mawid’ application. Staying at home and adhering to the safety measures and health instructions is the way for everyone to be safe from the novel Coronavirus.
Dr. Al-Abdulaali noted that anyone who has symptoms or wants an assessment can use the self-assessment service on ‘Mawid’ application. Citizens who have questions can also inquire or seek advice by calling the 937 Call Center, available 24/7. The call center is now made closer to everyone than ever. Citizens can benefit from its interactive services through WhatsApp application on the number 920005937. They can have access to health information and updates on COVID-19. The service also provides users with information on blood donation and primary health care centers (PHCs). Besides, it enables them to reserve appointments.
For his part, the MOT spokesman, Yasser Al-Misfer, reviewed the efforts and initiatives of MOT and the authorities and agencies affiliated with it within the transportation system. The ministry has completed road projects nearly 290 km long. It has also carried out maintenance to more than 44,000 km of asphalted roads. Furthermore, it maintained and flattened over 32,000 km of dirt roads, in addition to scrapping and re-asphalting multiple roads across several regions of the Kingdom. More than 350 tons of asphalt were used to implement these projects.
As for the Public Transport Authority, Al-Misfer explained that it launched several initiatives. Some were for the public transport sector in general and others for certain groups in particular. These groups include individuals in the passenger transport sector of all kinds, in addition to car drivers working with vehicle navigation applications. The Public Transport Authority has made a one-year extension for the operational elements of public transport buses. It also delayed receiving payments of fines for 3 months. Moreover, it delayed receiving the fees to renew licenses of public taxis for 3 months. Connecting to ‘Wasl’ platform was also delayed for 3 months. Furthermore, citizens were given a deadline of 3 months to submit the periodic technical inspection certificate required for issuing and renewing operating cards. They were also given a 4-month extension of all the deadlines specified in the new regulations of the Authority in the road transport sector.
The Authority has provided more than 8000 transport permits in curfew hours to the administrative and support teams of cargo transport facilities. Moreover, it provided over 137000 activity licenses and operating cards.
The number of trips made by trucks on various roads of the Kingdom during the time of the pandemic has exceeded 9 million. The trip duration rate has declined by nearly 40% due to the decrease in traffic flow during curfew hours and allowing truck entry into cities more frequently than before.
On the initiatives of the Saudi Ports Authority, the Ministry of Transport's spokesman explained that it has launched several of them to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The most prominent ones include postponing the payment of the fees owed to the authority for 90 days. In addition, the Authority extended the period of exemption of grounding charges for 10 days and postponed collecting fees for truck reservation at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. It also handled over 2.5 million containers carrying approximately 90 million tons of cargo.
A total of 277,000 cars and 5,600 ships have arrived at the Authority's ports. Moreover, 390,000 head of livestock were imported. Transactions of 25,000 passengers were completed, whether for residents wishing to return to their home countries or passengers transported since the beginning of the year before the curfew imposition.
Regarding the railway sector, Al-Misfer stated that more than 2.5 million tons of various minerals were transported by railway. They included phosphate bauxite, molten sulfur, and phosphoric acid. More than 219,000 containers were transported between King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Riyadh dry port.
As for the aviation sector, MOT spokesman stated that the validity of licenses, authentications, and certificates of the General Authority of Civil Aviation had been extended. This extension aims to facilitate the conduct of operations during the pandemic period. Moreover, the General Authority of Civil Aviation has dedicated 5 international airports to receiving citizens returning from abroad. Integrated and smooth cooperation is taking place between all security and health sectors to ensure the safety of the returning citizens.
Concerning air freight, Al-Misfer explained that more than 100,000 tons of medical equipment and foodstuffs were shipped in over 300 air freight flights. Saudi airlines have used the wide-body airplanes to ship materials and goods during the pandemic period, making 60% of the activity of air freight done using passenger airplanes.
Al-Misfer stressed that the transport system and the public and private logistical sectors are still making great efforts. They seek to provide and deliver goods, food, and medicine from all land ports, airports, and outlets of the Kingdom to consumers. The goods go through a long journey of procedures conducted smoothly and quickly for the comfort of all citizens and residents.