04/20/2020 - 21:42 PM
JEDDAH: Global organizations must produce a coordinated response to the coronavirus pandemic with an emphasis on supporting countries in need, the Saudi health minister said on Sunday.
Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah was speaking at a “virtual” meeting of G20 health ministers under the Saudi presidency, to discuss new measures to confront the outbreak.
He called for the creation of a global task force to respond to pandemics, an innovation hub for knowledge sharing to improve value in health, and a patient safety leaders group to provide shared platforms aimed at reducing patient safety risks.
Saudi Arabia reported 1,088 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, raising the total to 9,362, and the death toll rose by 5 to 97. Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly said more than 180,000 people had now been tested for the virus.
Worldwide, nearly 2.4 million people have been infected, and the death toll is nearing 165,000.
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