Daily Covid cases in Saudi Arabia above 1,000, continue to climb in UAE
Healthcare workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) stand outside a donning area at a COVID-19 care facility, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Mumbai, India, May 4, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
Daily coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia have climbed above 1,000 for the first time since August, while daily infections in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have crossed the 2,500-level.
Authorities in the two Gulf Arab states did not break down the cases by Covid-19 variant. Both countries confirmed their first known case of the Omicron variant in early December.
Saudi Arabia, the largest Gulf state with a population of around 30 million, on Sunday registered 1,024 new coronavirus infections and one death. Daily cases had fallen below 100 in September.
Neighbouring UAE, a tourism and commercial hub now marking its peak tourism season and hosting a world fair, announced 2,600 new coronavirus cases and three deaths.
Also read: UAE announces travel ban on non-vaccinated citizens
Daily infections in the UAE rose above 2,000 on Dec 29, after having fallen below 100 in October.
The UAE said on Saturday it would ban non-vaccinated citizens from traveling abroad from Jan 10 and that fully vaccinated citizens would also require a booster shot to be eligible to travel.
The latest daily Covid figures are still below a peak of nearly 4,000 hit in the UAE last January when visitors flocked to the country, and a record of over 4,700 in Saudi Arabia in June 2020, according to Reuters data.