Coronavirus no threat to pilgrims

Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has assured the world that the coronavirus does not pose a threat to Haj and Umrah pilgrims. In a statement at the end of the 59th meeting of the Regional Committee for the East of the Mediterranean at the regional headquarters of the World Health Organization in Cairo yesterday, Al-Rabeeah said: “The health condition of pilgrims is satisfactory. They are free from any kind of infectious diseases.” The Ministry of Health has taken all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of Haj pilgrims with 22,000 medical staff and eight hospitals in the holy sites and more than 150 health centers in Madinah apart from a number of hospitals, the minister said. Al-Rabeeah, who leads the Kingdom\'s delegation to the meetings, stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to combat noncommunicable diseases, pointing out that the country has contributed actively in the regional and international conferences in this field. In addition, Dr. Al-Rabeeah will sign Saturday a contract to set up SR1.187 billion worth specialized medical centers in the King Fahd Medical City. This is in line with the royal order to establish or expand medical cities and specialized hospitals in various parts of the Kingdom. Arab news