Coronavirus cases rise to 21 in Saudi Arabia

By Serdar Bitmez

RIYADH (AA) - Saudi Arabian health officials announced Wednesday a new coronavirus case that puts the number of those diagnosed in the Gulf country near two dozen.

Health Ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdelali said the 21 cases were confirmed after medical tests for 3,500 people but cautioned figures could surge in coming days.

Saudi Arabia has taken measures to curb the spread of the virus including suspending education, banning religious lessons at all mosques and limiting Friday prayer sermons to 15 minutes.

Saudi Arabia suspended travel from and to 14 countries for citizens and residents.

The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, last December and has spread to more than 100 countries.

The global death toll exceeds 4,300, with 118,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization that recently updated the global risk level to “very high” after declaring the outbreak an international health emergency.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat