Covid-19: UAE reports 72 new cases, Saudi extends curfew as case count crosses 1,100

The UAE registered 72 new coronavirus Covid-19 cases across the country, official news agency WAM reported.

As many as 405 people have now been infected by the virus across the country.

The new cases includes people who arrived from abroad or came into contact with previously confirmed cases under quarantine. Some cases were due to travel abroad, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) confirmed.

The new cases belonged to multiple nationalities including one each from Sri Lanka, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Comoros, China, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Bosnia, Serbia, Greece, Uruguay, Romania, Sweden, South Africa, Iraq and Yemen, two each from Nepal, and Ethiopia, four from the UAE, and five each from Britain, Pakistan and Lebanon. While eight were Bangladeshi nationals, 23 were Indian citizens.

Officials also announced that three additional individuals have recovered from the infection to bring the total number of recoveries to 55.

All patients are in a stable condition and receiving necessary medical care, the ministry affirmed.

The ministry advised the general public to comply with health and personal hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the virus. It also urged individuals suffering from respiratory ailments to avoid crowded places.

In addition to undertaking a series of measures to curb the spread of the infection, which includes suspending all passenger flights, cancelling events and encouraging people to stay indoors, the UAE government is carrying out a disinfection scheme to sterilise all public utilities and public transport over the weekend.

Update: UAE residents ordered to stay home during the disinfection programme this weekend

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia announced 92 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, taking the total number in the kingdom to 1,104.

#الصحة تعلن عن تسجيل (92) حالة إصابة جديدة بفيروس #كورونا الجديد (كوفيد19)، وتسجيل حالتي تعافي ليصبح مجموع الحالات المتعافية (35) حالة ولله الحمد. pic.twitter.com/p1VS1PBBUI

— و ز ا ر ة ا لـ صـ حـ ة السعودية (@SaudiMOH) March 27, 2020

That includes three deaths as well as 35 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health.

Officials said the kingdom has tested more than 45,000 people so far.

Highlights of the press conference of the official spokesperson. pic.twitter.com/xYopzI5Qes

— و ز ا ر ة ا لـ صـ حـ ة السعودية (@SaudiMOH) March 27, 2020

On Thursday, the kingdom also extended its existing curfew in the cities of Riyadh, Makkah and Madinah to begin from 3pm. Currently, the curfew runs from 7pm until 6am across all of Saudi Arabia.

Read: Saudi, Kuwait impose evening curfews to limit spread of Covid-19