Dubai: Saudi Arabia on Monday announced 154 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed patients to 1453 in the country, according the Ministry of Health.
This came as the Saudi Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah announced today all coronavirus patients in Saudi Arabia, including expats, visitors and violators of the residence system, will be treated for free.
The minister said the move follows the directives of King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, adding that Saudi Arabia is among the top 10 countries in conducting diagnostic tests.
Meanwhile, ministry also announced that the first group of citizens, quarantined as a precaution against the novel coronavirus, left for home.
A video released by the ministry showed health workers in the quarantine site in Jeddah bidding farewell to the departing people, scattering roses on them and giving them flowers and gifts. Those people had been placed for two weeks under quarantine after their arrival in the kingdom from countries hit by the virus.
The minister made it clear that no medication is approved for COVID-19 and that vaccines take time to be tested before being approved.