Saudi Health Minister predicts huge increase of COVID-19 cases

Studies by Saudi and international experts on epidemics predicted a huge increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah on Tuesday said in a statement that the studies estimated that the number of COVID-19 infections in the kingdom in the next few weeks will be between 10,000 and up to 200,000.

The official data showed that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the kingdom reached 2,795 on Tuesday, including 615 recoveries and 41 deaths, reported Xinhua news agency.

"There is no doubt that our strict and full commitment to instructions and measures will decline the number of infections to the minimum. But lack of commitment will lead to an enormous increase in the number of infections," the minister warned.

The Saudi government has allocated 15 billion Saudi riyals (about US $3.99 billion) as financial support to confront the virus' impact.

The money aims to raise the health sector's readiness to secure medicines, operate additional beds, provide medical equipment and health supplies, such as ventilators and testing devices, as well as secure necessary medical and technical staff from home and abroad.
-IANS