Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus cases have continued to drop in the last six weeks in Saudi Arabia.

According to the Health Ministry, two new confirmed cases and two recoveries were reported on April 20, but no deaths.

A 49-year-old expatriate in Riyadh and a 61-year-old Saudi in Hafoof tested positive for the infection, but both were in stable conditions, the ministry added.

Till Friday (April 24), 981 confirmed cases have been registered since June 2012.

A total of 550 patients (56 percent) have recovered, while 428 (43 percent) died. The deaths were mostly attributed to poor immunity.

Only three patients are under treatment currently, including the two who tested positive early this week and another patient.

The ministry said that it will continue to take all the necessary measures to fight the virus in its health care facilities and private hospitals.

The ministry urged the citizens to take precautionary measures against the virus and call the 24-hour hotline toll free number 937 for any queries.

Observers attribute the drop in MERS-CoV to many factors, such as unfavorable condition for the virus to proliferate, increased awareness, efforts by both the ministries of Health and Agriculture to educate public and take measures.

The Health Ministry’s measures include paying top attention to the infection control procedures, devising state-of-art electronic reporting system like Health Electronic System Network (HESN).

It is also obligatory for hospitals to report suspected cases to the ministry, failing which will invite heavy fines or even jail.