Cairo: Saudi health authorities have terminated the contract of a doctor for not abiding by precautions after he was infected with the coronavirus, Saudi news portal Sabq reported Friday, citing an official.
The doctor, who is an Arab national, worked in a hospital administratively affiliated to the Taif health directorate in western Saudi Arabia, according to the report.
“The doctor in question violated the royal orders and the health minister’s decisions related to restricting the movement of persons infected with coronavirus and their avoiding of mixing with others,” spokesman for the directorate Abdul Hadi Al Rabai said.
“Previously, the doctor had pledged commitment [but] he breached this, in addition to several violations that an inquiry committee saw contradicted principles of his profession as a doctor,” the official added.
The panel, the official added said, recommended the doctor’s contract be terminated along with looking at taking other legal penalties by referring him to prosecution.
Over the past weeks, Saudi Arabia has stepped up measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Earlier this week, authorities warned that those who deliberately transmit infection to others face a heavy fine and up to five years in prison or a fine of maximum 500,000 riyals or both penalties that will double in case of repetition.
Non-Saudi offenders face deportation and a ban on re-entering the country after serving the penalty.