Cairo: Health centres set up by Saudi Arabia to check those with mild or suspected symptoms of the new coronavirus have drawn large numbers of visitors as the country is battling to stem the spread of the potentially fatal disease.
Over 500,000 people have benefited from the services of the Tataman (Get Reassured) and Takkad (Make Sure) clinics since they went into operation across Saudi Arabia early last month, the Health Ministry reported.
The round-the-clock Tataman clinics examine those who display respiratory symptoms of the virus, including a sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath and high temperatures. Visitors do not need to book appointments in advance to go to those clinics that number 235 inside health centres and hospitals kingdomwide, according to the ministry. About 208,000 people so far have benefited from their services.
The Takkad centres are, meanwhile, designated for people who do not complain about symptoms of COVID-19 or suffer minor symptoms and believe they have come in touch with an infected person, the ministry added. An examination service is available at those centres through daily swabs provided through a beforehand appointment made via the app "Sehati" (My Health).
Around 357,000 people so far have benefited from the Takkad services, according to the ministry.
"The Takkad centres are now present in some health centres and mobile centres. They will be available in the next few days in all areas of the kingdom," the ministry said.
The tests provided there show the duration of the virus infection and help in early detection, thus preventing contagion hotspots.
Saudi health authorities so far have recorded a total of 209,509 virus cases and 1,916 related deaths.
