Expanded COVID-19 testing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Cairo: The Saudi Health Ministry will launch within days an expanded COVID-19 testing in the port city of Jeddah as part of precautions to stem the spread of the new coronavirus there, Saudi newspaper Okaz has reported.

The Reda Sea city has been under a reimposed curfew since June 6 after a recorded spike in virus infections there.

The COVID-19 testing will be conducted through drive-through centres set up on the Jeddah Corniche, according to the report.

Saudi authorities are carrying out large-scale COVID tests in heavily populated districts and labour housing sites as part of the active mopping strategy to early detect the virus. Such testing has played an active role in detecting infections and better helping contain the highly contagious disease.

On June 5, Saudi authorities announced reimposing a longer curfew starting from the following day in Jeddah along with enforcing other restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. They included closing mosques, suspending working attendance and banning gatherings of more than five persons.