VIDEO: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman takes first COVID-19 vaccine in kingdom
A health official administers the vaccine on Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, received the first dose for the COVID-19) as part of the national vaccine programme implemented by the Ministry of Health.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, said: “I extend my thanks and gratitude to the Crown Prince for his keenness and continuous follow-up to provide vaccines to citizens and residents, and his permanent directives to provide them with the best services.”
Within the framework of Vision 2030, which is a policy of "prevention is better than cure," which was represented by intensifying preventive measures, emphasizing that human health is first, and providing safe and internationally approved vaccine in record time and providing it to citizens and residents, making the Kingdom one of the best countries in the world in facing the corona pandemic.
Saudi Arabia on Sunday halted international flights and suspended entry through its land and sea ports for at least a week, after a new fast-spreading strain of coronavirus appeared in Britain.
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The kingdom is "temporarily suspending all international flights -- except in exceptional cases -- for a period of one week, which can be extended by another week," the official Saudi Press Agency said.
"Entry to the kingdom through land and sea ports will also be suspended for a week, which can be extended by another week," SPA added, citing the interior ministry.
The suspension does not apply to international aircraft currently in the kingdom, which will be allowed to leave, SPA said.
The Gulf sultanate of Oman adopted similar measures.
The decision was based on what "authorities in a number of countries announced regarding the emergence of a new Covid-19 strain", it said, adding the suspension will not apply to cargo flights and vessels.
Saudi Arabia has so far recorded more than 361,000 novel coronavirus cases, including more than 6,000 deaths -- the highest among the Gulf Arab states. But the kingdom has also reported a high recovery rate.
