JEDDAH – Labor Minister Adel Fakieh, who has been appointed acting Health Minister, visited on Tuesday King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah to check on the coronavirus cases as the death toll from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) climbed to 81 in the Kingdom. A 73-year-old Saudi who suffered from chronic illnesses died in Riyadh and a compatriot diagnosed with the virus, aged 54, died in Jeddah, the Health Ministry said late Monday. At least 17 new cases were reported on Tuesday, of which seven were in Jeddah, six in Riyadh, three in Madinah, and one in Tabuk. Fakieh said after touring the hospital that some patients were recovering but some were still in critical condition and need close follow-up. He said his new responsibilities drive him to stress on his commitment along with his team to stay in contact with the public. Fakieh also assured that he was committed to transparency and informing the media and the public about any developments on the disease. “This is not only because you have the right to information, but because you are also our partners in overcoming this difficult challenge,” he said. In addition to Saudi Arabia, the latest outbreak of MERS has shown up in the United Arab Emirates, which identified 12 new cases while examining those people who have had contact with infected individuals. Yemen also reported a case of MERS.
