RIP Pak LAW
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Number is close to 600 now and increasing just like Pakistan... Shia piligirms are the root cause unfortunately
Corona Virus spreads to Saudia
- Thread starter AZADPAKISTAN2009
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ArabianEmpires&Caliphates
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In KSA, as I wrote, the first causes in the entire country occurred in Qatif and later those infected where identified (relatively quickly given the nature of KSA) to have traveled to Iran via neighboring countries like UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain etc. as Saudi Arabian citizens are not allowed to travel to Iran any longer given the lack of Saudi Arabian embassies and consulates and the current relations. So Iranian Mullah officials deliberately did not stamp the passports of those Shias (not only Saudi Arabian ones) and thus deliberately endangering neighboring countries in the midst of a pandemic and outbreaks that they themselves lost the control of and tried to hide from the world.
Since it is illegal for Saudi Arabian nationals to travel to Iran, you can expect that there are some idiotic old women or men hiding in Qatif or elsewhere and not coming forward and thus endearing (potentially) their loved ones and local communities.
Even though our Shia clerics (who have their own scholars and Mullah's) joined our Sunni clerics (clergy) and long ago issued warnings.
Shia Mosques comply to The Council of Senior Scholars order. We will get through this together.
In any case KSA is one of the best prepared countries for this outbreak and least impacted so far. I also believe that the mutation in KSA (if it evolves independently) will have a hard time due to the increasing temperatures and the summer approaching.
Also KSA did a lot of studies on the related MERS virus and KAUST and others were working towards creating a vaccine albeit MERS was 40-80 times more deadly but less contiguous on the hand.
Thus most of the necessary infrastructure (testing kits, respiratory machines, intensive units) are ready. I am much more worried for other less fortunate countries if hit. Say Iraq, Syria or Yemen. Hopefully the weather can help here and common sense.
People in KSA, despite being famous for being outdoor people (Jeddawi traffic even at 04:00 is second to none in the region at least I have not seen anything like this anywhere in the region) are relatively good to obey the rules in place and almost everything closed relatively quickly so this probably helped reduce the spread.
In any case, there is a lot of phobia about this virus. Mostly due to the economic impact.
To put all this into perspective, 72.000 people die in the EU each year (according to the WHO) from the flu on an average season. Many more died in 2018 when I was even hit by the flu (for 1 week) for the first time in ages.
BTW the government imposed a 21 day curfew. Seems like the government is well-prepared and not taking any further risks. Already everything was closed outside of essential stuff like hospitals, food stores, supermarkets etc.
Even mosques have changed the call to prefer to "stay at home" (which is legal Islamically in case of pandemics in case people wonder).
Similar has been occurring in KSA.
The Babylon Health app advertised by Health Minister Tyler Shandro is owned and funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/02/sau...ion-investment-in-health-startup-babylon.html
If anyone remembers the funny KSA-Canada row.
A billboard ad bought by ministry of health which translate to: Thanks for everyone who didn't see this advertisement, stay at home.
ArabianEmpires&Caliphates
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The last time I checked the media (arguably some hours ago) it was not yet fully confirmed.
In any case those 2 individuals and whoever they interacted with will enter quarantine and depending on the state of those 2, will be taken to the hospital and isolated for 2 weeks and closely monitored.
Even after the end of any symptoms (once recovered) it is advised to self-isolate for another 2-3 days to make sure no spread is possible. Already was done with the 20 + recovered cases.
This is KSA (Najd).
Blacklight
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Dont talk about things you are clueless about, but I'm glad you did, at least now the forum knows how ill-informed you are. He did not die from a virus or any communicable disease.
@The Eagle Minion from pariah state seems to be in pains that his ruling elite has screwed the likes of him royally. Kindly tell him to keep his nonsense off this forum.
ArabianEmpires&Caliphates
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Cracking the code: Saudi researchers fight virus with genetic sequencing
RAWAN RADWAN
March 22, 2020
In the space of a few weeks, scientists have learned a great deal about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it, SARS-CoV-2, but more information is needed.
With researchers scrambling to find a means of combatting the spread of the virus, many countries are working to find a vaccine, with some clinical trials already taking place.
The King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) in Riyadh has recently announced that they have successfully completed the genetic sequence of COVID-19 from a number of patients. The Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has also successfully done the same.
As part of the global fight against the virus, the Saudi CDC has announced that the next-generation sequencing technology has helped identify the origin of the virus and the epidemiological link between positive cases.
In an interview with Al-Ekhbariyah TV, Dr. Ahmed Albarrag, chief officer of the public health laboratory at the Saudi CDC, said that through genetic sequencing, the institute can monitor the rate of spread and track transmission inside the Kingdom — which will reduce the infection rate — and also follow up on any genetic mutation of the virus.
Dr. Hosam Zowawi, a clinical microbiologist at the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, told Arab News that the importance of the genetic sequencing map of COVID-19 lies in understanding how the it has infected the Saudi population and its relevance to the existing virus circulating worldwide.
The number of patients that have been tested so far has not been announced by the Ministry of Health, but several health and scientific research institutes across the Kingdom have conducted the same procedure, including the Saudi CDC and KAIMRC.
Zowawi explained that the investigation of microbial genomics is mainly conducted by looking at the overall picture of the genome. “In this context, the purpose is to see the link between our strains as well as the ones that have infected others overseas,” he told Arab News.
The data helped identify the strains of the virus.
“This is interesting because this way we are able to identify the source of the strain, we always rely on the clinical ‘story’ and the travel history of the virus by conducting these technological investigations,” Zowawi said, adding: “As we get the 100 percent affirmation by the genomics, we have now additional power that we never had before this DNA age.”
Dr Abdullah Algaissi, virologist and assistant professor at the college of medical sciences at Jazan University, said: “Coronaviruses are fragile and more prone for mutations.” He told Arab News that it is critical that more sequencing is conducted and shared.
“With more sequencing, we will understand more if there are emerging cases in the Kingdom“, said Algaissi. “For the cases announced by the Ministry of Health, we can collect the samples, identify the source and compare it to data inserted by different authorities from other countries.”
“You need both epidemiological investigations and genetic sequencing to identify the source and track contacts,” said Algaissi.
According to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data database, there are currently over 39,000 coronaviruses sequence entries, with 1,121 COVID-19 entries.
Through this process, Algaissi told Arab News that they will be able to identify a means of controlling the disease, but finding a cure will take up to three years “if it (the virus) does not mutate,” he noted, adding: “But luckily the virus looks like it’s stable so far.”
One of the most important questions during outbreaks is to know how to break the chain of transmission. “By conducting whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the virus on a certain number of patients, we can identify the path of disease transmission within this group and provide information on the probable source,” said Zowawi.
Molecular tools such as WGS are being utilized and advanced at a fast rate to provide better methods for identifying, comparing and classifying pathogenic organisms. The practice is common in the study of pandemics and epidemics.
With the current number of confirmed cases globally reaching over 310,000, over 13,000 deaths and over 95,000 recoveries, the need for clinical trials is vital. The outbreak is gaining steam in many countries at a dangerous rate.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said last Wednesday that it would launch a multi-country clinical trial for potential coronavirus therapies. The “SOLIDARITY” trial, it said, was part of an aggressive effort to initiate the global research for anti-viral drugs to treat COVID-19.
“Multiple small trials with different methodologies may not give us the clear, strong evidence we need about which treatments help to save lives,” said WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom, adding: “WHO and its partners are therefore organizing a study in many countries in which some of these untested treatments are compared with each other. This large, international study is designed to generate the robust data we need, to show which treatments are the most effective. We have called this study the SOLIDARITY trial.”
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and many of its scientific institutes have since partnered with the WHO to provide it with the latest data in an effort to ensure that sources are documented and released.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1645431/saudi-arabia
Drastic decline in new coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia’s Qatif
Updated 23 March 2020
RUBA OBAID
March 23, 2020
The city was locked down two weeks ago to contain the spread of the virus, and so far only four new cases have been reported, said Saudi health authorities on Sunday.
The current situation in Qatif shows that the spread of the virus in the city has been contained due to the steps taken by the authorities, said Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly at a press conference. “The infection rate has fallen, which is very reassuring for the people of Qatif,” he added.
The ministry confirmed 119 new cases nationwide on Sunday, pushing the total number in the country to 511.
Most of the cases reported on Sunday had been in contact with those who had earlier contracted the virus, a trend the spokesman described as “worrying.”
Of the 119 new cases, 72 were reported in Makkah and are Turkish nationals. “All of them were infected from people who had earlier tested positive for the virus,” the spokesman said.
Another 40 of the new cases were involved in a social gathering with previously announced cases.
Al-Aly stressed that people must limit their movements, stay home, and avoid gatherings and activities of any kind.
“This is unfortunate. We’ve repeatedly warned against social gatherings, whether inside or outside homes. Even a group of 10 people or less is dangerous,” he said, adding that further preventive measures, such as a curfew in any other area of the country, cannot be ruled out.
He stressed that everyone who is instructed to remain in quarantine should commit to the 14-day period.
The number of people currently in quarantine and domestic isolation under the ministry’s mentorship is 4,000, while the cumulative total exceeds 10,000.
“It isn’t enough to maintain personal hygiene and avoid contact. All of these measures are important but not enough. Contact is very dangerous for adults, young people and children alike. Please be careful,” Al-Aly said.
“The matter isn’t limited to the efforts of governments. Everyone must be aware of their responsibility to protect themselves and those around them.”
He urged citizens and residents to avoid traveling between cities unless absolutely necessary. He also invited everyone to benefit from the ministry’s services, such as its hotline 937, and its Mawid and Seha apps.
The city-wise breakdown of the new cases of coronavirus is Makkah (72), Riyadh (43), Qatif (4), Al-Ahsa (3), Alkhobar (3), Dhahran (1) and Dammam (1).
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1645466/saudi-arabia
Great news.
No casualties so far and less than 600 infected, of those 450 being citizens. I think that we can say that KSA is doing a remarkably good job so far considering what is occurring in the neighborhood. I am absolutely certain that MERS is the main cause of this and the dedication and work of our doctors and nurses.
RAWAN RADWAN
March 22, 2020
- Many countries are working to find a vaccine, with some clinical trials already taking place
In the space of a few weeks, scientists have learned a great deal about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it, SARS-CoV-2, but more information is needed.
With researchers scrambling to find a means of combatting the spread of the virus, many countries are working to find a vaccine, with some clinical trials already taking place.
The King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) in Riyadh has recently announced that they have successfully completed the genetic sequence of COVID-19 from a number of patients. The Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has also successfully done the same.
As part of the global fight against the virus, the Saudi CDC has announced that the next-generation sequencing technology has helped identify the origin of the virus and the epidemiological link between positive cases.
In an interview with Al-Ekhbariyah TV, Dr. Ahmed Albarrag, chief officer of the public health laboratory at the Saudi CDC, said that through genetic sequencing, the institute can monitor the rate of spread and track transmission inside the Kingdom — which will reduce the infection rate — and also follow up on any genetic mutation of the virus.
Dr. Hosam Zowawi, a clinical microbiologist at the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, told Arab News that the importance of the genetic sequencing map of COVID-19 lies in understanding how the it has infected the Saudi population and its relevance to the existing virus circulating worldwide.
The number of patients that have been tested so far has not been announced by the Ministry of Health, but several health and scientific research institutes across the Kingdom have conducted the same procedure, including the Saudi CDC and KAIMRC.
Zowawi explained that the investigation of microbial genomics is mainly conducted by looking at the overall picture of the genome. “In this context, the purpose is to see the link between our strains as well as the ones that have infected others overseas,” he told Arab News.
The data helped identify the strains of the virus.
“This is interesting because this way we are able to identify the source of the strain, we always rely on the clinical ‘story’ and the travel history of the virus by conducting these technological investigations,” Zowawi said, adding: “As we get the 100 percent affirmation by the genomics, we have now additional power that we never had before this DNA age.”
Dr Abdullah Algaissi, virologist and assistant professor at the college of medical sciences at Jazan University, said: “Coronaviruses are fragile and more prone for mutations.” He told Arab News that it is critical that more sequencing is conducted and shared.
“With more sequencing, we will understand more if there are emerging cases in the Kingdom“, said Algaissi. “For the cases announced by the Ministry of Health, we can collect the samples, identify the source and compare it to data inserted by different authorities from other countries.”
“You need both epidemiological investigations and genetic sequencing to identify the source and track contacts,” said Algaissi.
According to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data database, there are currently over 39,000 coronaviruses sequence entries, with 1,121 COVID-19 entries.
Through this process, Algaissi told Arab News that they will be able to identify a means of controlling the disease, but finding a cure will take up to three years “if it (the virus) does not mutate,” he noted, adding: “But luckily the virus looks like it’s stable so far.”
One of the most important questions during outbreaks is to know how to break the chain of transmission. “By conducting whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the virus on a certain number of patients, we can identify the path of disease transmission within this group and provide information on the probable source,” said Zowawi.
Molecular tools such as WGS are being utilized and advanced at a fast rate to provide better methods for identifying, comparing and classifying pathogenic organisms. The practice is common in the study of pandemics and epidemics.
With the current number of confirmed cases globally reaching over 310,000, over 13,000 deaths and over 95,000 recoveries, the need for clinical trials is vital. The outbreak is gaining steam in many countries at a dangerous rate.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said last Wednesday that it would launch a multi-country clinical trial for potential coronavirus therapies. The “SOLIDARITY” trial, it said, was part of an aggressive effort to initiate the global research for anti-viral drugs to treat COVID-19.
“Multiple small trials with different methodologies may not give us the clear, strong evidence we need about which treatments help to save lives,” said WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom, adding: “WHO and its partners are therefore organizing a study in many countries in which some of these untested treatments are compared with each other. This large, international study is designed to generate the robust data we need, to show which treatments are the most effective. We have called this study the SOLIDARITY trial.”
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and many of its scientific institutes have since partnered with the WHO to provide it with the latest data in an effort to ensure that sources are documented and released.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1645431/saudi-arabia
Drastic decline in new coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia’s Qatif
Updated 23 March 2020
RUBA OBAID
March 23, 2020
- 119 new cases reported pushing the total to 511
The city was locked down two weeks ago to contain the spread of the virus, and so far only four new cases have been reported, said Saudi health authorities on Sunday.
The current situation in Qatif shows that the spread of the virus in the city has been contained due to the steps taken by the authorities, said Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly at a press conference. “The infection rate has fallen, which is very reassuring for the people of Qatif,” he added.
The ministry confirmed 119 new cases nationwide on Sunday, pushing the total number in the country to 511.
Most of the cases reported on Sunday had been in contact with those who had earlier contracted the virus, a trend the spokesman described as “worrying.”
Of the 119 new cases, 72 were reported in Makkah and are Turkish nationals. “All of them were infected from people who had earlier tested positive for the virus,” the spokesman said.
Another 40 of the new cases were involved in a social gathering with previously announced cases.
Al-Aly stressed that people must limit their movements, stay home, and avoid gatherings and activities of any kind.
“This is unfortunate. We’ve repeatedly warned against social gatherings, whether inside or outside homes. Even a group of 10 people or less is dangerous,” he said, adding that further preventive measures, such as a curfew in any other area of the country, cannot be ruled out.
He stressed that everyone who is instructed to remain in quarantine should commit to the 14-day period.
The number of people currently in quarantine and domestic isolation under the ministry’s mentorship is 4,000, while the cumulative total exceeds 10,000.
“It isn’t enough to maintain personal hygiene and avoid contact. All of these measures are important but not enough. Contact is very dangerous for adults, young people and children alike. Please be careful,” Al-Aly said.
“The matter isn’t limited to the efforts of governments. Everyone must be aware of their responsibility to protect themselves and those around them.”
He urged citizens and residents to avoid traveling between cities unless absolutely necessary. He also invited everyone to benefit from the ministry’s services, such as its hotline 937, and its Mawid and Seha apps.
The city-wise breakdown of the new cases of coronavirus is Makkah (72), Riyadh (43), Qatif (4), Al-Ahsa (3), Alkhobar (3), Dhahran (1) and Dammam (1).
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1645466/saudi-arabia
Great news.
No casualties so far and less than 600 infected, of those 450 being citizens. I think that we can say that KSA is doing a remarkably good job so far considering what is occurring in the neighborhood. I am absolutely certain that MERS is the main cause of this and the dedication and work of our doctors and nurses.
Last edited:
ArabianEmpires&Caliphates
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565 cases and so far no casualties yet as of today.
Silence falls across Saudi Arabia’s major cities as coronavirus curfew takes effect
RAWAN RADWAN & NOOR NUGALI
March 23, 2020
King Salman on Sunday announced the curfew would run across the Kingdom from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting from Monday. The curfew is scheduled to last 21 days.
In Riyadh and Jeddah the main highways and side roads that are usually full of traffic in the evening were empty apart from the occasional police patrol.
An hour before the curfew came into effect, supermarkets and pharmacies in the capital were busy with customers trying to do their final bits of shopping before the clock struck 7 p.m.
Within an hour of the curfew taking effect, King Fahd Road, one of Riyadh’s busiest highways, was almost free of cars.
In Jeddah, residents appeared to be adhering to the new rules and keeping off the streets in a show of solidarity and social responsibility.
--------
PHOTOS: Saudi Arabia’s cities fall quiet during coronavirus curfew
--------
The curfew order requires all people to stay in their homes during the curfew hours for their own safety.
Violators of the curfew will face a fine of SR10,000 ($2,665), and repeat offenders could be sent to jail for up to 20 days, the Saudi Ministry of Interior said Monday.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1646066/saudi-arabia’s-cities-fall-quiet-during-coronavirus-curfew
This is a very high fine even for well-to-do citizens. Drastic measures but this is necessary to take no unnecessary chances.
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If everything goes berserk in the world, I am moving to the Rub' al-Khali.
Or to one of the 2000 islands in KSA, many which are uninhabited. That or finding a village house to live in, in our many mountainous regions....As far away from as many people as possible.
Silence falls across Saudi Arabia’s major cities as coronavirus curfew takes effect
RAWAN RADWAN & NOOR NUGALI
March 23, 2020
- Major highways in Riyadh and Jeddah are all but empty bar police patrols
- Curfew takes effect after King Salman announced the measure on Sunday
King Salman on Sunday announced the curfew would run across the Kingdom from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting from Monday. The curfew is scheduled to last 21 days.
In Riyadh and Jeddah the main highways and side roads that are usually full of traffic in the evening were empty apart from the occasional police patrol.
An hour before the curfew came into effect, supermarkets and pharmacies in the capital were busy with customers trying to do their final bits of shopping before the clock struck 7 p.m.
Within an hour of the curfew taking effect, King Fahd Road, one of Riyadh’s busiest highways, was almost free of cars.
In Jeddah, residents appeared to be adhering to the new rules and keeping off the streets in a show of solidarity and social responsibility.
--------
PHOTOS: Saudi Arabia’s cities fall quiet during coronavirus curfew
--------
The curfew order requires all people to stay in their homes during the curfew hours for their own safety.
Violators of the curfew will face a fine of SR10,000 ($2,665), and repeat offenders could be sent to jail for up to 20 days, the Saudi Ministry of Interior said Monday.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1646066/saudi-arabia’s-cities-fall-quiet-during-coronavirus-curfew
This is a very high fine even for well-to-do citizens. Drastic measures but this is necessary to take no unnecessary chances.
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If everything goes berserk in the world, I am moving to the Rub' al-Khali.
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ArabianEmpires&Caliphates
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2 casualties (1 of them an Afghan national) and 900 infected.
From what I can see on
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
KSA has the lowest ratio of deaths compared to infected people in the world.
WHO has been praising KSA as well.
ECONOMY
Saudi Arabia announces $32 billion in emergency funds to mitigate oil, coronavirus impact
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-and-oil-saudi-arabia-announces-32-billion-stimulus.html
Great.
It has now become prohibited to enter and leave Riyadh, Makkah and Madinah. The Qatif region was already in quarantine.
If people continue to act this calculated and the government continues the relatively harsh measures, I think that we will end up as being one of the least affected countries in the world from this damn pandemic. Insha'Allah.
Hajj should be cancelled unless the situation in the world improves drastically before which is IMO unlikely.
From what I can see on
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
KSA has the lowest ratio of deaths compared to infected people in the world.
WHO has been praising KSA as well.
ECONOMY
Saudi Arabia announces $32 billion in emergency funds to mitigate oil, coronavirus impact
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-and-oil-saudi-arabia-announces-32-billion-stimulus.html
Great.
It has now become prohibited to enter and leave Riyadh, Makkah and Madinah. The Qatif region was already in quarantine.
If people continue to act this calculated and the government continues the relatively harsh measures, I think that we will end up as being one of the least affected countries in the world from this damn pandemic. Insha'Allah.
Hajj should be cancelled unless the situation in the world improves drastically before which is IMO unlikely.
