JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s daily coronavirus (COVID-19) cases are starting to stabilize, but Dr. Hani Jokhdar, the Kingdom’s deputy minister for public health, wants the country to remain vigilant.

Over the past week, there have been approximately 350 news cases per day, which is actually a drop in numbers.

“The current situation does not require stricter measures if the (small numbers) continue,” Jokhdar said in an interview with Saudi state news channel Al-Ekhbariya.

“The increase did not reach a number where we need to worry about it. Numbers in most cities have been stable over the past six days, and we hope to see this stability continue as we return to normalcy.”

Home gatherings are the No. 1 cause of transmission for COVID-19 in the Kingdom, Jokhdar said.

He advised people to adhere to precautionary measures in public and then continue that practice when they return home.

“If someone is out for most of the day, they should apply the health measures at home,” he said. “They should look out especially for the elderly or those with chronic illnesses.”

Meanwhile, Jokhdar said new batches of the COVID-19 vaccine should arrive in the Kingdom soon and there will be a rescheduling of appointments for people waiting for their second dose.

“We hope to have vaccinated a large percentage of the population within the next three months,” he said.

Jokhdar’s comments came as 337 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Kingdom on Saturday, bringing the national total to 372,410.

Riyadh had 161 cases, followed by the Eastern Province (72), Makkah (46), Qassim (11) and Hail (10). Other regions in the Kingdom recorded a single number of cases.

The death toll reached 6,428 after another four people died from the virus.