Saudi Gazette report



RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has reported 17 new confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus, raising the total number of recorded cases in the Kingdom to 103 on Saturday, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing the ministry of health.



In a related development, the Kingdom suspended all international flights for two weeks starting Sunday in a drive against the spread of the global coronavirus, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.



“The Kingdom’s government has decided to suspend international flights for travelers – excluding exceptional cases – for a period of two weeks,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Saturday the ministry as saying.



Health Ministry announces 17 new cases of COVID-19



Of the 17 new cases, the first involved a citizen who had traveled to Iran. He is now quarantined in a health facility in Al-Ahsa.



The second is that of a citizen who mingled with an already announced case. He is now quarantined in a Qatif hospital.



The ministry added that the third and fourth cases are of two citizens in Qatif, who came from Italy and Iran. They are now quarantined in a health facility in Qatif.



The fifth case is that of a citizen who is in a quarantine facility in Jeddah. He came from Iran.



A total of 12 cases are reported in Riyadh, including three Saudi citizens who had interacted with people already diagnosed with the disease. An American expatriate also tested positive after he came in contact with the affected people. Also affected are three Saudis who had traveled to Britain and four others who came back to the Kingdom from France. One French national is also reported to be affected. He came to the Kingdom from France after transiting in UAE.