Coronavirus: Saudi authorities say summer heat not a solution

Another 50 people died in the kingdom, with confirmed infections edging towards 200,000

People spend time at the seafront promenade in the Saudi port city of Jeddah as the country reopens following the lifting of a lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP

People spend time at the seafront promenade in the Saudi seaport of Jeddah. AFP

A man walks at the seafront promenade in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. AFP

Saudi youths ride bicycles at the seafront promenade in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. AFP

A hairdresser clad in face shield and mask cuts a client's hair at a women's salon in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. AFP

A hairdresser clad in face shield and mask blow-dries a client's hair at a women's salon in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. AFP

Mask-clad men walk along the promenade of Tahlia street in the centre of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. AFP

Mask-clad clients wait for their table to be sanitised upon arriving at a cafe in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. AFP

A worker sanitises a table for clients at a cafe in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. AFP

A waiter takes orders from clients at a cafe in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. AFP

A mask-clad waiter takes orders from clients at a cafe in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. AFP

Cars drive down King Fahad boulevard after the authorities eased some of the lockdown measures that had been imposed in a bid to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, in the Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP

Cars drive along King Fahad boulevard after the authorities eased some of the lockdown measures that had been imposed in a bid to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus, in the Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP

Workers wearing protective face masks work on a road after authorities eased some of the measures that had been imposed in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, in the Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP

A volunteer checks the temperature of a man as he arrives to perform the dawn prayer at a mosque in the Saudi holy city of Makkah. AFP

Worshippers, keeping a safe distance from one another, perform the dawn prayer at a mosque in the Saudi holy city of Makkah. AFP

Fifty more people died from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours in Saudi Arabia, authorities said on Tuesday, and the health ministry cautioned against expecting the scorching summer heat to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Health ministry spokesman Mohammed Al Abdulaali said rising temperatures would have little effect on transmission because of the widespread use of air conditioning.

“Most of us will be in controlled environments different to the high temperatures that could affect the activity or survival of the virus,” said Mr Al Abdulaali, who is a physician.

He said transmission would continue to depend on whether people "cover their mouth and nose, perform handshakes or mix directly with each other".

"Continuous caution is required regardless of the season," he said.

Data released by the ministry also showed 4,387 more infections, 40 per cent of which were registered in the eastern urban centres of Al Hofouf, Al Mubarraz and Al Dammam.

So far, 1,649 people have died from the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia, which has reported 190,823 infections.

The caseload has risen sharply since the government reopened the economy at the start of June.

Officials have urged the population to adhere to social distancing guidelines, which they say are being largely ignored.