RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Wednesday confirmed 1,141 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 12,772, a health ministry spokesman said. The Kingdom also recorded five fatalities over the past 24 hours. All the deceased are non-Saudis with ages ranging between 51 and 76 years. This raised the death toll to 114. Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali, spokesman of the ministry of health, was quoted by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as telling a regular press briefing here that 172 people have recovered during the last 24 hours raising the number of recoveries to 1,812. There are 10,846 active cases in Saudi Arabia, but most are in a stable condition, the spokesman said. Eighty-two people of those being treated are in critical conditions. Makkah again topped the list with 315 cases, followed by 240 in Hufuf, 164 in Riyadh, 137 in Madinah and 114 in Jeddah. There were 61 infections in Dammam, 35 in Tabuk, 26 in Dhahran, 18 in Bisha, 14 in Taif, three in Kharj, two each in Al-Tuwal, Sabya and Hail, and one each in Qurayat, Sharorah, Al-Hada, Al-Wajh, Al-Jafr, Uglat, Al-Mithnab and Yanbu, the spokesman said. The health ministry continued to emphasize the importance of following preventive measures though the holy month of Ramadan. The spokesman advised people to refrain from shaking hands and to avoid physical greetings. He also advised people not to share personal items such as prayer rugs to prevent the spread of the virus. As Muslims prepare to fast for the month of Ramadan, the health ministry spokesman advised people to follow a healthy diet and to stay hydrated when not fasting. These habits, in addition to exercising, help strengthen the immune system.
