Coronavirus under control, claims Gulf official

Saudi Arabia has brought the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus under control, according to a senior GCC official. Dr. Tawfiq Khoja, director general of the Executive Bureau of Gulf Health Ministers Council, said that the Saudi Health Ministry command and control center (CCC) contributed substantially in bringing down the number of MERS cases.

“The Kingdom’s health system, especially health services and facilities to confront Ebola like contagious diseases, is well geared up to meet any situation,” he said while speaking to the Bahrain daily Al-Watan.

Meanwhile, Makkah Emir Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah, who is also chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, Tuesday launched the national media awareness campaign for hajj pilgrims. The theme of this year’s campaign is “The right way is Hajj with a permit.”

Prince Mishal said that all the concerned sectors have completed their preparations for a hassle-free hajj. “This year’s media campaign aims at preventing the negative phenomena and misbehavior as well as to prevent any violation of hajj rules and regulations,” he said adding that all ministries, government agencies and departments will take part in the campaign in partnership with the telecom companies.

Minister of Hajj Bandar Hajjar said the ministry has mobilized all its resources to make its hajj plan a resounding success.

This article was first published in Saudi Gazette on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014.