RIYADH —The Ministry of Health announced that health centers across the Kingdom began on Sunday carrying out coronavirus tests for those who applied for it through its central appointment system called Mawid. This self-assessment app enables people showing symptoms of the virus or those seeking medical advice to book, cancel or reschedule their appointments at primary healthcare centers as well as to manage their referral appointments. The ministry stated that the ongoing community screening will cover homes in a later phase. The expanded screening to assess the general prevalence of the epidemic would continue, in addition to launching a number of other measures for expanded screening procedures. In the first stage of the community screening, field teams from the Ministry of Health are continuing their proactive testing in densely populated neighborhoods and labor camps, the ministry said while noting that this was instrumental in recording more infections as well as to contain the spread of the epidemic effectively and quickly. The ministry said it would intensify proactive field testing, reaching out to people in their homes at a later stage so as to discover cases of infection early even if they do not show symptoms and before they come into contact with others. The 24-hour proactive survey teams, consisting of officials from several health specialties, in addition to the health awareness and education teams, and members of a number of relevant government agencies are carrying out verbal awareness campaigns among the public, the ministry said. It urged people to dial its helpline number 937 in case of if they notice any symptoms of the virus in order to receive free treatment offered by the government.
