Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia confirmed cases exceed 15,000

Kingdom reports six new deaths, bringing the total to 127 people

The Great Mosque and the Makkah Tower, deserted on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramdan, in the holy city of Makkah, during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. AFP

Saudi Arabia on Friday reported six new deaths from the novel coronavirus and 1,172 new cases over the last 24 hours.

Authorities in the Kingdom have so far registered 127 deaths from the pandemic and 15,102 cases, the highest numbers of deaths and infections in the GCC.

The Health Ministry said that 124 people recovered bringing the number of recoveries to 2,049.

The ministry reported that the new cases were discovered after an intensified testing process across the country.

The coronavirus pandemic has left the Grand Mosque in Makkah empty, with Muslims facing unprecedented restrictions during the holy month of Ramadan.

“I am pained that the holy month arrives amid circumstances that make us unable to perform group prayers and Taraweeh at mosques due to precautionary measures to protect the peoples’ lives," Saudi Arabia's King Salman said in a statement issued by state news agency SPA.

Several countries' religious authorities, including Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, have ruled that prayers during Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr will be performed at home.

Qatar confirmed 761 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, with 59 further recoveries, bringing the total case count to 8,525 with 809 recoveries.

Kuwait's Ministry of Health reported 215 new cases and one new death was confirmed in a 55-year-old resident from Bangladesh.

Of the new cases, seven were related to recent travel to the UK, 198 resulted from contact with previously infected individuals and 10 cases are under investigation.

Oman reported 74 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 1,790.

Of the new cases are 35 Omanis and 39 foreigners, the Health Ministry said.

A 57-year-old expatriate died on Thursday night after testing positive, raising the number of deaths to nine cases in the country.

The overall number of recoveries reached 325 on Friday.

Bahrain’s health ministry said that 31 people have recovered after contracting the virus in the last 24 hours.

The ministry said it found “212 new active cases among expatriate workers after conducting 5,334 tests across the kingdom”.

Early detection of cases “among expatriate workers and isolating new cases strengthens precautionary measures established to safeguard the health of citizens and residents,” the ministry said on Twitter.