Saudi Arabia announces first case of coronavirus

The announcement means that all Gulf countries have now reported cases of the virus

Muslim worshippers circumambulate the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site. Saudi Arabia reopened today the area around the sacred Kaaba, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak. AFP

A Muslim worshipper prays near the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque. AFP

Muslim worshippers circumambulate the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque. AFP

Muslim worshippers circumambulate the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, on March 7, 2020. Saudi Arabia reopened today the area around the sacred Kaaba, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Saudi authorities this week suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage, during which worshippers circle the Kaaba seven times, and also announced the temporary closure of the area around the cube structure. / AFP / Abdel Ghani BASHIR

This combination of pictures created on March 07, 2020 shows a small crowd of worshippers around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque on March 7, 2020 and a large crowd of worshippers around the Kaaba (Tawaf al-Wadaa) during pilgrimage on August 13, 2019. AFP

Workers disinfect the ground around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia emptied Islam's holiest site for what they say sterilization over fears of the new coronavirus. AP Photo

An aerial view shows an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque. An eerie emptiness enveloped the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, where attendance at Friday prayers was hit by measures to protect against the deadly new coronavirus. AFP

A Saudi policeman prays in front of the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

A pilgrim poses for a picture as in front of the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. At Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, restrictions put in place by Saudi Arabia to halt the spread of the new coronavirus saw far smaller crowds than usual on Monday. AP Photo

A small number of pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. At Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, restrictions put in place by Saudi Arabia to halt the spread of the new coronavirus saw far smaller crowds than usual on Monday. AP Photo

Workers clean the Grand Mosque, during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. At Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, restrictions put in place by Saudi Arabia to halt the spread of the new coronavirus saw far smaller crowds than usual on Monday. AP Photo

A pilgrim, who entered Saudi Arabia before the country halted travel to the holiest sites, takes a rest on a praying carpet at the roof of the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

A muslim pilgrim wears a protective face mask to prevent contracting coronavirus, as he prays at the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS

Muslim pilgrims wear protective face masks to prevent contracting coronavirus, as they arrive at the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS

Muslim pilgrims wear protective face masks to prevent contracting coronavirus, as they arrive at the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS

A travel agency officer tidies up suitcases owned by Umrah pilgrims, after the cancellation of the departure to Mecca following the Saudi government's temporary ban to keep the country safe because of coronavirus outbreak, in Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia. REUTERS

Umrah pilgrims leave after the cancellation of the departure to Mecca following the Saudi government's temporary ban announced on Thursday to keep the country safe because of coronavirus outbreak, at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia. REUTERS

Umrah pilgrims are seen after the cancellation of the departure to Mecca following the Saudi government's temporary ban announced on Thursday to keep the country safe because of coronavirus outbreak, at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia. REUTERS

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced its first case of the new coronavirus as the country steps up measures to contain the spread.

The infected person had come from Iran through Bahrain, a report in the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

“Within the framework of the precautionary measures, the ministry sent an infection control team to examine the citizen and to take samples for laboratory tests and it was confirmed that he was infected with the virus. The citizen has been quarantined in the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment,” the ministry said.

The statement also added that so far 290 people in the kingdom have been tested for the virus but only the one case has been detected.

“We have raised the level of health readiness to enhance prevention from the disease,” Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah said. “We have formed a committee comprising 17 various authorities to monitor the situation. We are also working as one system to prevent infections and be prepared to deal with the disease in case of any appearance.”

Several countries in the region have reported coronavirus infections in people who have visited Iran. These include Kuwait, whose health ministry on Monday reported 10 new cases in the last 24 hours, all of whom had been in Iran. The Gulf Arab state has now reported 56 cases of the virus.

Dh1 million in emergency medical supplies were flown from Dubai to Iran on Monday to help doctors stem the spread of coronavirus in the Islamic Republic where 1,501 have been infected and 66 have died, including a senior official.

Saudi Arabia has been preparing for its first case through the last week, closing the country to many visitors and pilgrims.

The government on Monday launched an electronic service to refund umrah fees after entry to pilgrims was suspended last week amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak.

The refunds will be made electronically through umrah agents in the pilgrims’ respective countries, the SPA said.

The country, which is home to Islam's two holiest sites, announced last Thursday that it would be imposing a ban on foreigners coming to the kingdom for the umrah pilgrimage, which can take place at any time of the year. Over 8 million people undertook umrah last year.

The move is a first for Saudi Arabia, where religious sites remained open even during past virus outbreaks such as the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic that killed between 20 and 50 million worldwide.

It also placed a ban on tourists from at least 25 countries where the virus has been found.

They include China, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Kazakhstan.

Officials in the kingdom say the ban is temporary, although no date has been given for lifting the restrictions.

It also raises the possibility that Saudi Arabia will drastically curtail or cancel the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah at the end of July if the spread of the virus continues. Such a move would be unprecedented.

The kingdom's health ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdelali told a news conference on Monday that 25 hospitals have been prepared to handle any cases that might be detected in the country.

Mr Abdelali said that 2,200 hospital beds were set aside for quarantine requirements.

The coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has hit worldwide and infected more than 89,000 people in almost 60 countries.

The SPA also reported that the kingdom’s Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al Sheikh directed Mosques across the country to dedicate sermons at Friday prayers this week to discuss how to deal with infectious diseases including coronavirus and educating people on the latest government advice on how to stop the spread.

At the Grand Mosque in Makka, authorities have stepped up sterilisation and cleaning to stop the spread of the virus. They have increased the frequency of cleaning and begun spraying floors, surfaces and carpets with disinfectant. Hand sanitizer has also been placed at various points around the site.