RIYADH — Coronavirus infections in Saudi Arabia continue to increase with 1,966 new cases confirmed on Monday, while the death rate has slightly dropped to 0.6 percent, according to the health ministry. With Monday's cases the total number of infections in the Kingdomk now stand at 41,014. Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali, health ministry spokesman, said 1,280 new recoveries were recorded over the past the 24 hours, raising the total number or recoveries to 12,737. "This is a slightly over 30 percent of the total confirmed cases," the spokesman was quoted by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as saying. Giving the breakup of new cases, Dr. Al-Abdel Ali said Riyadh topped the list on Monday with 520 cases, followed by 343 in Makkah, 257 in Madinah, 236 in Jeddah and 137 in Hufof. There were 95 infections in Dammam, 71 in Taif, 60 in Al-Khobar, 49 in Jubail, 39 in Hadda, 25 in Diriyah, 23 in Qatif, 15 each in Majardah and Buraidah and 10 each in Tabuk and Hail. The rest of about 60 cases were detected in other small cities and towns across the country. Infected cases in the past few days were due to the examination and other factors. Some cases were related to family gathering. The basic reproductive number (R0) for the coronavirus was between 3-4 in early stages, currently this number has decreased to approximately 1, with disparities among cities, Dr. Al-Abdel Ali added.
