JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia recorded a 70 percent increase in daily coronavirus cases, according to a report by the Saudi Health Ministry on Monday.
The ministry confirmed 1,746 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 559,852.
According to the ministry, the highest number of cases were recorded in the capital Riyadh with 437, followed by Makkah with 374, Jeddah with 340, Madinah confirmed 84, and Dammam recorded 81.
The report also showed that the number of virus-infected critical cases jumped to 90, reflecting a 50 percent increase in one day.
It also confirmed two new COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the Kingdom’s death toll to 8,881.
The report added that 341 patients had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 542,754.
The ministry has issued reassurances that a booster shot against the omicron variant can help people avoid the acute complications the virus can cause.
More than 51.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the Kingdom’s immunization campaign began, with more than 23.2 million people fully vaccinated.
The ministry, which has 587 vaccine centers throughout the Kingdom, urged people who have not yet received a jab to register to receive one through its Sehhaty app.
Saudi municipalities have also ramped up efforts to monitor compliance with health and safety measures.
The municipality of the Eastern Province carried out 1,261 inspection tours of commercial centers and facilities on Sunday. Authorities recorded 77 violations and closed six businesses for not adhering to the precautionary measures.
Al-Baha Municipality carried out 2,211 tours on Sunday and field teams issued fines to 50 commercial outlets and closed 20 others for breaching protocols.
Dr. Ali Al-Sawat, the mayor of Al-Baha, said that teams are continuing to intensify their field tours to monitor all facilities around the clock, adding that violating facilities will not be tolerated and maximum penalties will be applied, from issuing fines and penalties to closing businesses.
Authorities in Najran recorded 11 violations on Sunday during 263 monitoring rounds, and in Al-Ahsa, seven businesses were shut and 84 violations issued during 188 field tours.
Officials have also called on the public to report any suspected health breaches by phoning the 940 call center number or contacting authorities through the Balady app.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected over 290 million people globally and the death toll has reached around 5.46 million.
