Worshipers perform Isha prayer while keeping distance between them next to the Kaaba in Mekkah's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site on April 27, 2020. AFP
Worshipers perform Isha prayer while keeping distance between them next to the Kaaba in Mekkah's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site on April 27, 2020. AFP
Worshipers perform Isha prayer while keeping distance between them next to the Kaaba in Mekkah's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site on April 27, 2020. AFP
Worshipers perform Isha prayer while keeping distance between them next to the Kaaba in Mekkah's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site on April 27, 2020. AFP

Coronavirus: cases surpass 20,000 in Saudi Arabia

One million people in the kingdom have been screened, the health ministry says

Mina Aldroubi
Mina Aldroubi
Abu Dhabi

April 28, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia's coronavirus cases exceeded 20,000 on Tuesday after the country released daily figures adding 1,266 individuals to the total. 
Eight people have died from causes related to the virus, bringing the total number of fatalities to 152, the health ministry said.
The country now has 20,077 cases of the disease.
Since April 17, the government has been announcing over 1,000 cases of the coronavirus daily, after screening one million people, the ministry said.

"The testing has helped detect certain areas that may have an increase number of cases, and these are targeted via mass testing depending on whether or not they test positive," a health ministry spokesperson said.
The spike in cases was seen after the health ministry started running tests two weeks ago.

Trains arrive and depart from Victoria Station near Battersea Power Station in London, England. TfL has announced that it has furloughed 7000 staff as it faces "massive financial challenges" due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to Downing Street this week after recovering from Covid-19, said the country needed to continue its lockdown measures to avoid a second spike in infections. Getty
Trains arrive and depart from Victoria Station near Battersea Power Station in London, England. TfL has announced that it has furloughed 7000 staff as it faces "massive financial challenges" due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to Downing Street this week after recovering from Covid-19, said the country needed to continue its lockdown measures to avoid a second spike in infections. Getty
A medical worker helps an elderly woman to get in a car as she was released from the intensive care unit of the hospital of Vinogradov City Clinical Hospital in Moscow, Russia. Reports of Russian medical workers becoming infected with the coronavirus are emerging almost daily as the country copes with a growing number of patients. AP
A medical worker helps an elderly woman to get in a car as she was released from the intensive care unit of the hospital of Vinogradov City Clinical Hospital in Moscow, Russia. Reports of Russian medical workers becoming infected with the coronavirus are emerging almost daily as the country copes with a growing number of patients. AP
A man sleeps on a street outside shuttered shops in the Monastiraki district of Athens as lockdown measures continue to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. AP
A man sleeps on a street outside shuttered shops in the Monastiraki district of Athens as lockdown measures continue to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. AP
A woman pushes a buggy as they walk along the Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain, as the lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus continues. Health authorities in Spain are urging parents to be responsible and abide by social distancing rules a day after some beach fronts and city promenades filled with families eager to enjoy the first stroll out in six weeks. AP
A woman pushes a buggy as they walk along the Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain, as the lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus continues. Health authorities in Spain are urging parents to be responsible and abide by social distancing rules a day after some beach fronts and city promenades filled with families eager to enjoy the first stroll out in six weeks. AP
A general view of Koninklijk Paleis or The Royal Palace on King's Day which has been muted amid Coronavirus Quarantine Measures in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The country is beginning to ease lockdown measures it adopted to curb Corona Virus / Covid-19 infections, but large public gatherings are still banned, such as the King's Day (Koningsdag) celebrations that typically mark King Willem-Alexander's birthday. Getty
A general view of Koninklijk Paleis or The Royal Palace on King's Day which has been muted amid Coronavirus Quarantine Measures in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The country is beginning to ease lockdown measures it adopted to curb Corona Virus / Covid-19 infections, but large public gatherings are still banned, such as the King's Day (Koningsdag) celebrations that typically mark King Willem-Alexander's birthday. Getty
A cyclist rides down an empty Mulberry Street with the Empire State Building looming in the distance as storefronts in the normally bustling tourist district remain closed due to social distancing restrictions, in the Little Italy neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York. AP
A cyclist rides down an empty Mulberry Street with the Empire State Building looming in the distance as storefronts in the normally bustling tourist district remain closed due to social distancing restrictions, in the Little Italy neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York. AP
German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (C) speaks with the media near a shipment of 10 million protective face masks and other protective medical gear that had arrived on an Antonov 225 cargo plane from China at Leipzig/Halle Airport during the novel coronavirus crisis in Schkeuditz, Germany. The flight, coordinated by the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, is one of three that will bring 25 million masks to Germany. Germany currently has approximately 157,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection, of which approximately 103,000 have recovered and 6,0000 have died. Getty
German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (C) speaks with the media near a shipment of 10 million protective face masks and other protective medical gear that had arrived on an Antonov 225 cargo plane from China at Leipzig/Halle Airport during the novel coronavirus crisis in Schkeuditz, Germany. The flight, coordinated by the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, is one of three that will bring 25 million masks to Germany. Germany currently has approximately 157,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection, of which approximately 103,000 have recovered and 6,0000 have died. Getty
An aerial view at the pedestrian intersection at Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave during morning rush hour in Los Angeles, California during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. AFP
An aerial view at the pedestrian intersection at Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave during morning rush hour in Los Angeles, California during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. AFP
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte meets reporters in Milan, Italy. Italian factories, construction sites and wholesale supply businesses can resume activity as soon as they put safety measures into place aimed at containing contagion with COVID-19. This concession comes with partial easing of national lockdown restrictions announced Sunday night by Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte. AP
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte meets reporters in Milan, Italy. Italian factories, construction sites and wholesale supply businesses can resume activity as soon as they put safety measures into place aimed at containing contagion with COVID-19. This concession comes with partial easing of national lockdown restrictions announced Sunday night by Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte. AP
An employee wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) directs a customer at a Hindustan Petroleum Corp. gas station during a lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus in New Delhi, India. Oil has lost almost 80% this year as global efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus vaporized demand for everything from gasoline to crude. The world's biggest producers have pledged to slash daily output from the start of next month to try and balance the market, but the collapse in consumption has led to a swelling glut that's testing the limits of storage worldwide. Bloomberg
An employee wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) directs a customer at a Hindustan Petroleum Corp. gas station during a lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus in New Delhi, India. Oil has lost almost 80% this year as global efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus vaporized demand for everything from gasoline to crude. The world's biggest producers have pledged to slash daily output from the start of next month to try and balance the market, but the collapse in consumption has led to a swelling glut that's testing the limits of storage worldwide. Bloomberg
Nurses wearing face masks monitor COVID-19 patients in the ICU at the Emerging Infectious Disease Clinic in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Athit Perawongmetha
Nurses wearing face masks monitor COVID-19 patients in the ICU at the Emerging Infectious Disease Clinic in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Athit Perawongmetha
Medical personnel walk past migrant workers at a dormitory during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Singapore. REUTERS
Medical personnel walk past migrant workers at a dormitory during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Singapore. REUTERS
Malaysian health workers register traders before carrying out COVID-19 screenings at a wet market in Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. About 60 traders of Taman Megah morning wet market were undergoing COVID-19 screenings after one of them had tested positive for the coronavirus disease. The market was shut down for sanitisation work. EPA
Malaysian health workers register traders before carrying out COVID-19 screenings at a wet market in Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. About 60 traders of Taman Megah morning wet market were undergoing COVID-19 screenings after one of them had tested positive for the coronavirus disease. The market was shut down for sanitisation work. EPA
Commuters wearing face masks travel on a tram past HSBC signage displayed outside the bank’s local headquarters in Hong Kong. The London-based, Asia-focused banking giant HSBC is expected to release its first-quarter results on April 28 amid affects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Commuters wearing face masks travel on a tram past HSBC signage displayed outside the bank’s local headquarters in Hong Kong. The London-based, Asia-focused banking giant HSBC is expected to release its first-quarter results on April 28 amid affects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. AFP

The health ministry said the 253 people have recovered during the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,784.
One million people in the country have been screened for the novel coronavirus, the ministry said.

Read More

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records five new deaths as case tally passes 18,000

Covid-19 could infect one billion in conflict states

Other GCC states also reported increases in cases.

Oman reported 82 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2,131, the health ministry said.

They include 40 Omani citizens and 42 foreigners, the ministry said.

One person died from the disease in Kuwait over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 23 fatalities.

The 61-year-old Indian resident passed away in intensive care, the Health Ministry spokesperson Abdullah Al Sanad said.

Mr Al Sanad said that 152 new cases emerged in the last 24 hours, raising the total number to 3,440 cases.

Of those infected,128 came in contact with individuals who were carrying the disease and 15 others were linked to travel to the UK, Turkey and France, the official said.

The ministry said that 164 patients have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,176.

Bahrain said on Tuesday that 87 new coronavirus were found during the last 24 hours.

The number now stand at 2,810. The health ministry said that of those infected were 72 expatriate workers, it was mostly due to having direct contact with those infected.

There were no new death cases announced on Tuesday, eight people have died since the outbreak was reported in the country.

The ministry said 28 patients have fully recovered, pushing the total number of recoveries to 1,218.

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Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

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Founders: Mansour Althani and Abdullah Althani

Based: Business Bay, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India

Sector: Technology, digital marketing and e-commerce

Size: 70 employees 

Revenue: On track to make Dh100 million in revenue this year since its 2015 launch

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