Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia death toll reaches 200

The Kingdom's infected cases have topped 30,000

A small group of worshippers pray at Kaaba in the Grand Mosque while practising social distancing, during the holy month of Ramadan, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters 

Saudi Arabia’s death toll reached 200 on Tuesday after the kingdom reported 9 new coronavirus fatalities.

The kingdom confirmed 1,595 coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 30,251.

“If you leave your homes make sure to wear a face mask, avoid crowded places, and leave enough distance between each other,” Health Minister, Tawfiq Al Rabiah said.

Health authorities said several hospitals across the kingdom have begun testing a convalescent plasma treatment for the virus.

The procedure includes using blood of recovered individuals, who are thought to have antibodies in their system, on infected patients.

Saudi Arabia has been reporting over 1,000 new Covid-19 infections per day since April 17, when the number of cases was about 7,000.

Other GCC states also confirmed new cases of the virus.

Kuwait reported on Tuesday it’s highest daily tally of 523 new cases, bringing the total number of those infected to 5,804.

The country has recorded 40 deaths since the outbreak of the virus.

Out of the new cases 520 patients got the disease from getting in contact with infected individuals, Health Ministry spokesperson  Abdullah Sanad said.

The six remaining cases were a result of those travelling to the US, Mr Sanad said.

A total of 90 patients are in intensive care including 31 in critical condition.

The total number of those recovered during the last 24 hours is 85, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,032.

Qatar recorded 951 new cases, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 17,142.

Oman said 98 new cases emerged during the last 24 hours, bringing the country's overall infections to 2,735, according to the Health Ministry.

The newly diagnosed cases include 42 Omanis and 56 foreigners.

Oman has reported 12 deaths.

The total number of recoveries in the country now stands at 858.

Oman’s Supreme Coronavirus Committee said on Tuesday that the school year, for private and public institutes, will officially end on May 7.

Bahrain recorded 146 new cases during the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 3,670.

The country has so far confirmed eight coronavirus deaths and 1,762 recoveries.