RIYADH — Saudi Arabia announced 1,644 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of COVID-19 infections in the Kingdom to 80,185, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Thursday. The ministry also reported 3,531 recoveries and 16 more deaths, taking the total number of recoveries to 54,553 and fatalities to 441. Of the new cases, 611 were recorded in Riyadh, 360 in Jeddah, 148 in Makkah and 101 in Dammam. According to the ministry's statement, females made up 26 percent of the new cases while males accounted for 74 percent. In terms of age group, the elders formed 5 percent, the children 12 percent and the adults 83. Of the 16 deceased, one of them was a Saudi national and the deaths were reported in Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah, Jizan, Dammam and Al Khobar. Meanwhile, the rate of recovery has jumped to 68 percent against a rate of fatalities at 0.55 percent, the ministry stated. The ministry also said 16,428 additional coronavirus tests were carried out, taking the total number of tests to 770,696 so far. The ministry urged the public to keep washing hands with water and soap in addition to covering mouth and nose with a cloth face mask while going out. Earlier in the day, the ministry issued a statement asking people not to be reckless and negligent as the pandemic is continuing and the virus is still present. The statement said: "We do not want to lose anyone, don't infect yourself, your parents and your children with the virus because of recklessness and negligence. We are at the forefront, protecting precious lives, and we must carry out our national duty by adhering to healthy behaviors."
