Saudi Arabia sees 21 new MERS cases in a week

Saudi ministry of health announced it registered 21 positive cases of MERS-coronavirus last week with 20 of the cases in Riyadh and one in Abha.

The ministry said 844 samples were tested for coronavirus in its laboratories during the same period, according to a statement it published on its website.

It added that it is continuing its efforts in epidemical monitoring around the clock and also coordinating with the concerned government sectors and international health organizations including the World Health Organization.

The ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, added that it is carrying out awareness campaigns on coronavirus in places where camels are herded and among camel owners and herders while asking them to take precautions when dealing with camels.

The ministry said that the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the appearance of the disease reached 1072. Of these 588 cases were cured and 25 cases are still under treatment, it added.