Health

Saudi Arabia records 1,982 new COVID-19 cases, one death in 24 hours

Saudi Arabia has recorded 1,982 new COVID-19 cases and one virus-related death in the last 24 hours, according to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health.

A total of 732,596 COVID-19 cases and 8,975 virus-related deaths have now been recorded in Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the pandemic.

Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.

In the last 24 hours there were also 3,372 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 698,842.

The Kingdom has administered 59,722,826 vaccine doses to its population of approximately 35 million, the health ministry said.

Authorities in the Kingdom are offering booster vaccine shots to people immediately after recovering from the virus. It is also available three months after the second dose for those who have not tested positive.

The Ministry of Interior now mandates that citizens traveling outside the country must take a third dose.

Exceptions to this rule include those younger than 16 years of age and citizens who have an exempt status on the Tawakkalna application.

Booster shots are required to be considered “immune” in the country’s contact-tracing Tawakkalna app for people over 18 who were vaccinated more than eight months ago.

Canada's Trudeau invokes emergency powers to quell protests

Kuwait lifts many COVID-19 restrictions, allows travel abroad

Health

Europe: Report highlights direct link between pandemic and childhood obesity

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased obesity in school-aged children in Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) office for the region said in a new report issued on Wednesday, sounding the alarm for action.

Health

‘Just in case’ use of antibiotics was rife during COVID-19, says UN health agency

Antibiotics saw “extensive overuse” globally among hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the pandemic without improving clinical outcomes, while also potentially exacerbating the already serious and growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

Health

Teen alcohol and nicotine use in Europe is up, WHO urges preventive measures

Substance use is on the rise among teenagers in Europe, Central Asia and Canada and girls now match or even exceed boys when it comes to smoking and drinking, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a new report on Thursday.