Manama: The emergency unit at King Fahad Hospital in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah has been shut down as a precautionary measure amid reports that several people fell ill with Mers coronavirus.

The news comes as Saudi health authorities have reported the deaths of another two men and four new cases of Mers, bringing the death toll from the respiratory disease in the worst hit country to 66.

At least 11 medical staff have been reported to have contracted the virus, a spokesperson at the hospital said.

“Six of them are hospitalised at the King Fahad hospital, two at the King Abdul Aziz hospital, one doctor at the King Faisal hospital and two other doctors at the University hospital and at the National Guard hospital,” the spokesperson said.

One of the patients is in critical condition, the spokesperson was quoted by Al Madinah newspaper.

Patients seeking treatment at the now shut down King Fahad emergency unit have been referred to other hospitals in the city.

The paper on Tuesday reported “deep mystery” over the status of the Jeddah hospital amid rumours that several people, including staff, fell ill with the Mers coronavirus.

Rumours claimed that 15 people working at King Fahad Hospital in Jeddah, including three doctors, four nurses and eight employees, had fallen ill, Al Madina said.

However, hospital authorities refused to divulge any figures or state what actually happened, it added.

The paper said that its reporter went to the emergency unity and found no patient. A local official said that people opted to remain away from the hospital following the spread of the Mers rumours.

However, the official denied claims that medical staff refused to report to work for fear of falling ill, insisting that the hospital was adequately equipped to deal with the emergency.

Fahad Al Ghubaichi, a Saudi national, told the daily that his family had concerns about the condition of his hospitalised father.

“We just need the health ministry to issue a statement that clarifies the situation,” he said.

According to March figures by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 206 people have had the Mers coronavirus since September 2012 with 86 cases ending in death.

Most cases were reported in Saudi Arabia or among people who had travelled to Saudi Arabia.