Middle East Experience

The first group of Saudi Arabians repatriated to the Kingdom arrived on April 10 from Indonesia following King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s orders to bring citizens home after the new coronavirus halted flights around the world.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The 250 passengers aboard the Saudi Airlines flight landed from Jakarta at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.All precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that the passengers are healthy, and they have been asked to adhere to preventative quarantine measures, according to SPA.Also read: ‘I could not leave’ says Saudi doctor on the frontlines of Italy’s coronavirus battleTheir arrival comes after King Salman ordered the foreign minister to work on procedures that will allow Saudi citizens to return to the Kingdom.The total number of confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia is 3,651, out of which 2,919 are currently active, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday. The virus-related death toll stands at 47.The number of daily reported cases has not yet peaked in Saudi Arabia, and the ministry urged the public to adhere to health and safety measures after four studies showed that number of coronavirus cases in the Kingdom could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 within weeks.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabian citizens stranded in Bahrain return homeCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman extends expiring reentry visas for 3 months
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: 250 repatriated Saudi Arabians arrive in the Kingdom from Indonesia 

Tech giants will add contact-tracing to their app platforms that could alert if they have come into contact with a person with Covid-19
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Apple, Google in rare partnership to combat Covid-19

Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, said she is '80% confident' the vaccine would work
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Covid-19: Vaccine against the coronavirus could be ready by September

Police said the man has been referred to competent authorities for further legal action
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Expat in Dubai arrested over impersonating a security officer

Iran has carried out 251,703 tests for the virus so far
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Iran says virus deaths rise 125 to 4,357

Ministry of Health Undersecretary said Oman is facing a shortage of some medical supplies
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Oman reports third Covid-19-related death amid concerns over supplies

Saudi Arabia reported 382 new coronavirus cases and five new virus-related deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to 4,033 and the number of fatalities to 52, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The number of daily confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia has not reached the peak yet, and cases continue to rise at a rapid rate.Out of the 382 cases, 131 were detected in Mecca, 95 in Medina, 76 in Riyadh, and 50 in Jeddah. In recent days, 70 to 80 percent of the cases reported were of non-citizens, the ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdulali said.The new cases were recorded in people of different age groups, indicating that while experts have said the elderly are more vulnerable, everyone is susceptible to the disease, the spokesman said.Among those who died are a 33-year-old male citizen in Jeddah, a 67-year-old male citizen in Medina, and three residents in Jeddah and Mecca aged 41, 63, and 80 years old. Most of the fatalities reported had chronic illnesses.Also read: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia on verge of locally producing 1,000 ventilators per week Abdulali advised the public to use the “Mawid” app that enables citizens and residents to check whether they need to self-isolate or visit a hospital after registering their recent travel history and any coronavirus symptoms they may be showing.Saudi Arabia is implementing several methods to treat patients, including the use of plasma injections in the Kingdom’s more than 20 coronavirus treatment facilities, the spokesman said. So far, 720 people have recovered from the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia.Cases will keep rising Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health had said earlier this week that four different studies showed that the number of coronavirus cases in the Kingdom could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 within weeks.The ministry spokesman emphasized the urgent need for citizens and residents to remain at home and maintain social distancing practices to ensure that the virus does not spread further.The Kingdom has begun repatriating citizens from around the world, as the pandemic halted the operation of flights globally. So far, a total of 1,639 citizens have returned to Saudi Arabia.Also read: Coronavirus: 250 repatriated Saudi Arabians arrive in the Kingdom from Indonesia
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 382 new cases, five new deaths

The United Arab Emirates reported 376 new cases, raising the total number of cases in the country to 3,736, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Four people have died from the virus today, the ministry spokeswoman Farida al-Husseini said, bringing the total number of virus-related fatalities in the UAE to 20.The new cases were discovered after 20,000 tests were conducted on both citizens and residents across the country. They are all currently stable, al-Husseini said.The number of daily reported cases in the UAE has not peaked yet, and the rate of infections continues to rise at an accelerating pace.The UAE on March 28 launched 13 mobile testing cites across the country, which are available to the public, with priority given to those who are symptomatic and individuals who fall under the criteria published by the World Health Organization.The number of recoveries in the UAE rose to 588 after 170 people recovered from the virus.Strict regulations and precautionary measures Authorities have enforced several new regulations as part of the measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.The nationwide disinfection program was extended on April 4 until further notice, while a 24-hour lockdown was imposed in Dubai. Everyone in Dubai must apply for a permit if they need to leave their home to buy groceries or medical supplies.Commercial activities across the country have also been suspended indefinitely as the UAE ramps up its measures.Read more:Coronavirus: UAE refers 129 quarantine violators to public prosecutor’s officeCoronavirus: $270 fine for walking next to others, $1,360 for partying in UAECoronavirus: Dubai fines 14 merchants for hiking facemask prices
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE coronavirus cases rise to 3,736 as death toll climbs to 20

People are advised to convey condolences via phone call..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: How last rites of coronavirus victims are performed in UAE

Christian towns in the Sidon area celebrated Easter a little differently this year, as an unprecedented health crisis hits the country, and the world..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sidon celebrates Easter virtually from home