RIYADH — Saudi Arabia recorded 1,289 new coronavirus cases, marking its highest daily increase so far, bringing the total number of cases in the kingdom to 18,811, according to the health ministry. The Kingdom also confirmed five new deaths, raising the death toll to 144. An additional 174 people have recovered within the past 24 hours, raising the total number of recoveries to 2,531, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted the ministry's spokesman Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali as saying. The country saw a spike in cases when the health ministry began its field-testing efforts nearly two weeks ago, targeting suspected infection cluster areas. Since then, there has been a steady increase in daily cases. Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali, Ministry of Health spokesman, was quoted by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as saying that around 1 million people have been screened so far in various neighborhoods throughout the Kingdom. The spokesman said Jeddah with 294 infections topped the list on Monday. It was followed by 218 cases in Makkah, 202 in Madinah, 178 in Riyadh, 126 in Baish, and 107 in Jubail. There were 50 cases in Al-Khobar, 37 in Hufof, 26 in Dammam and 11 in Al-Zulfi. Seven cases were recorded in Qatif, five each in Taif and Baha, four each in Buraidah and Tabuk, three in Hail, two in Al-Muzahmiya and one case each in Abha, Khamis Mushayt, Yanbu, Jazan, Al-Tuwal, Dumat Al-Jandal, Kharj, Sajir, Diriyah and Sakaka.
