Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah on Wednesday announced that 51 out of 70 people, who came into contact with the citizen infected with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), have tested negative. The ministry is waiting for the result of the rest of the 19 people, he said while confirming that the citizen who tested positive for the virus is in a stable condition.

The Ministry of Health on Monday announced detection of the first coronavirus case in the Kingdom with the infection of a Saudi citizen traveling from Iran to the Kingdom through Bahrain. The ministry said the national did not disclose to the authorities at the Saudi entry point that he had been in Iran recently.

The citizen was placed under quarantine in a hospital, the minister said in a press briefing. The infected man is being provided with necessary medical care in accordance with the approved procedures.

Al-Rabiah said that the condition of the people who came in contact with the infected person will be monitored during the next two weeks in order to ensure their safety as well as that they are not showing any symptoms of the virus.

“The committee is represented by 17 different government agencies, and it is meeting on a daily basis. There is complete coordination and harmony between all members of the committee and government agencies they represent to protect the Kingdom from the virus,” he said.

Al-Rabiah called upon everyone to take information only from the Ministry of Health as well as from other reliable sources and not to believe in rumors.

“The Kingdom, represented by the Ministry of Health, is committed to have full transparency and will make public any data about any new infection cases,” he added.