Saudi Arabia has just converted the 8,000 square meter location of the Jeddah Exhibition and Convention Center into a hospital that will receive mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. The newly established facility, which is also set to house various other amenities such as a laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and medical supplies, will begin operations with 20 beds in a sort of test phase, but will eventually provide 500 beds once it becomes fully operational.
According to the Jeddah Health Affairs Department, the hospital is taking all necessary preventive and public safety and security requirements required to receive and treat the patients. In addition, the facility will have a full-fledged medical and technical staff on-ground and is being supplied with medical equipment such as oxygen cylinders.
Saudi Arabia was amongst the first countries to respond to COVID-19 before it was declared a pandemic. From curbing the spread to assisting the economy, the Kingdom has made headlines across the globe in news media such as BBC, Euronews, and The New York Times for its readiness to fight the pandemic. Indeed, the Kingdom continues to work on curbing the spread of coronavirus across the country through various preventive measures and safety initiatives.
For instance, Saudi Arabia announced last month the introduction of electronic wristband trackers to monitor people quarantined inside their homes, and also extended its Tawakkalna app to provide people with information about the number of COVID-19 infections in the country, ways to prevent it, placing request for ambulance, medical news issued by the Ministry of Health, and more.
