Saudi Arabia crown prince receives first Covid-19 vaccine in the kingdom

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received the first Covid-19 vaccine administered in the kingdom, as part of the national Covid-19 vaccination plan being implemented by the ministry of health, state news agency SPA reported on Friday.

Saudi Arabia detected 178 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 361,903, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

The total recoveries increased to 352,815 after 207 individuals who had previously tested positive recovered, it said, adding the death toll reached 6,168 with nine new fatalities reported due to Covid-19 complications.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman have closed their borders and suspended commercial flights over fears about a new coronavirus strain.

Saudi Arabia shut its land and sea borders on Sunday and suspended international commercial flights for a renewable week although foreign flights already in the country can leave, the Interior Ministry said.

The measures do not apply to movement of goods from countries where the new Covid-19 strain has not appeared.

Several countries have cut travel ties with Britain after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a highly infectious new strain of the virus was a danger to the country.