Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Dr.Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said on Wednesday that the global death rate from COVID-19 is ten times higher than that of Saudi Arabia.

In a televised address here on Wednesday, the minister announced that the “death rate from coronavirus in Saudi Arabia is very low, at 0.7 percent.”

“The spike in coronavirus cases in the Kingdom was due to more testing,” Al-Rabiah said.

Talking about the preparedness and capacity at hospitals, Al-Rabiah said: “Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the government has allocated thousands of ICU beds and respirators, of which 96 percent remain unused.

Lauding the citizens and residents, he said: “Thankfully, with you taking the necessary precautions, we won’t need them.”

He said that mass screening helped in early detection of cases and prevented the spread of the infection. It also allowed early treatment to the patients before their health could worsen.