SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 16 May 2024, Thursday |

Saudi Arabia Urges Unvaccinated People to Receive the Shot

Saudi health authorities have urged people who are not immunized against COVID-19 to sign up to receive the shot.

The Kingdom recently decreed that citizens and residents would not be allowed to access activities, events and facilities and use public transportation without the vaccination permit in the dedicated Tawakkalna application.

As per a decision issued last month, residents of the Kingdom are required to receive at least one jab or have recovered from COVID-19 to attend social, cultural, sports and entertainment gatherings, and enter private, government or commercial establishments. Health authorities have called on residents to register for the vaccine, and centers across the Kingdom have been urged to provide more time-slots to accommodate the growing numbers.

The Saudi Health Ministry said that medical exceptions, including medically proven hypersensitivity to the vaccine would be granted based on medical reports.

Starting August 9, Saudis will also be banned from traveling abroad without receiving two doses of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education announced on Sunday that the academic year will be in-person for the intermediate and secondary levels for those who have received two doses of the vaccine. It said the return of primary stage and kindergarten students will be linked to reaching the required societal immunity of 70 percent of the population or on Oct. 30, 2021, whichever comes first.

The Ministry of Health said that 1,084 confirmed new cases were registered on Sunday, as well as 1,285 recoveries, while the number of active cases reached 11,191 cases, including 1,403 in critical condition.

    Source:
  • Asharq Al-Awsat