Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 118 cases as daily infections continue declining
January 7, 2021, 11:52 am

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 118 cases as daily infections continue declining

A man in a wheelchair leaving after he received dose of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 17, 2020. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia reported 118 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, as the number of daily infections in the Kingdom continues a declining trend.

The Ministry of Health reported 118 new COVID-19 infections, 144 recovered patients and seven deaths over the past 24 hours.

This brings the Kingdom’s coronavirus tally up to 363,377 confirmed cases, 354,899 recoveries and 6,272 fatalities.

The number of active cases being treated stood at 2,206, and 351 out of those are in critical condition.

Riyadh region had the highest number of new cases, followed by Mecca region and Eastern Province.

The number of daily new cases in Saudi Arabia has recently dropped from highs of several thousand to double digits.

On January 3, the ministry said the number of daily cases dropped to 82 for the first time in months. On January 4, it reported 94 new infections.

The ministry said the coronavirus vaccine centers in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Region were witnessing a massive turnout by citizens and residents. It also said more vaccination centers will be launched soon all regions of the Kingdom.

The Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah had launched the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in mid-December using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

source: Tuqa Khalid

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.