Covid-19: Saudi reports 70 new cases

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has announced 70 new cases of the Covid-19 outbreak on Friday, March 20, to take the total number of those infected with the pathogen to 344.

The ministry confirmed that of the new infections, 11 cases were of those who came into the kingdom from Morocco, India, Jordan, the Philippines, Britain, UAE and Switzerland, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The 11 cases were isolated directly from the airports to limit the local transmission of the infection.

Of the new cases, 49 were in Riyadh, 11 in Jeddah, two in Makkah, and one case in Madinah, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Al Baha, Tabuk, Bisha and Hafr Al-Batin each, the ministry said.

A total of eight patients have recovered in the kingdom, while the rest are being given the necessary medical attention.

Saudi Arabia also announced the suspension of all forms of domestic transport in the country for 14 days to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Read: Covid-19: Saudi to suspend all domestic flights, buses, taxis and trains

The suspension, which covers flights, buses, trains and taxis, will begin at 6am on Saturday, March 21, and last for 14 days.

Kuwait
On Friday, March 20, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health reported that during the past 24 hours, 11 new confirmed cases of the Covid-19 infection have been registered.

The number of those infected in the country now totals 159, Kuwait News Agency reported.

Coronavirus COVID – 19 update Friday #KUNA #KUWAIT
(M.T) pic.twitter.com/H3V4MGo5oL

— Kuwait News Agency – English Feed (@kuna_en) March 20, 2020

A total of 22 patients have recovered while 137 continue to receive treatment. Five cases remain admitted in the intensive care unit.