JEDDAH — The committee concerned with following up on the status of the novel coronavirus held its ninth meeting here on Friday headed by Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.

Representatives from the ministries of Defense, Energy, Interior, National Guard, Foreign Affairs, Health, Finance, Media, Trade and Investment are part of the committee. Hajj and Umrah, Education, as well as the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the General Authority of Customs, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Saudi CDC) are represented in the committee.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed the related international events, assessed the current situation, and followed up on recommendations made in previous meetings.

The committee also reviewed the global situation and took a set of measures to limit the arrival of people from coronavirus-afflicted countries. It also decided to hold a press conference on Sunday in which representatives from a number of concerned entities will speak and shed light on developments.

The committee is following up all the developments related to the COVID-19, coordinating among the concerned authorities to ensure that precautionary and preventive measures are applied in the air, land and sea entry ports to prevent arrival and spread of coronavirus.

The committee is making sure that all health facilities are ready to deal with the virus and following up on the educational efforts of all concerned sectors with the Ministry of Education and the activities and awareness campaigns it carries out in schools and universities.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is also reviewing requests for visitors visa for the purpose of Umrah and the implementation of instructions issued in their regard, in addition to the Ministry's instructions to Umrah companies and institutions to follow up on Umrah performers currently in the Kingdom and provide them with all facilities. — SPA