Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s success story in managing the COVID-19 outbreak marks its outstanding agility in responding to public health emergencies, as well as ensuring the well-being of residents and pilgrims is a key pillar of the kingdom’s healthcare strategy, according to a press release.

The successful response to the pandemic and its challenges came at a time when oil prices were volatile. The kingdom walked the talk in this regard, scoring across all four phases of the preparedness and response framework - prevent, detect, contain, and treat.

Overcoming challenges through concerted efforts

Given that Saudi Arabia has one of the most challenging environments in managing the crisis, being the most populated GCC country, with a large population of expatriates as well as pilgrims who come from across the world to visit the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Even before a single COVID-19 case was reported in the kingdom, Saudi Arabia suspended pilgrimages. Access to the two holy cities was barred as early as 26 February, long before many nations had even considered lockdown and even before the World Health Organisation (WHO) had labelled COVID-19 as a global pandemic.

This foresight helped achieve better outcomes in managing the virus spread and enabled the kingdom to be among countries that did not report an uncontrollable outbreak.

Moreover, the Ministry of Health relied on the most advanced digital healthcare structure, as well as the fast-paced mobilisation of more than 25 hospitals and care resources during the early phases of the pandemic, in efforts to contain the outbreak.

Food security was ensured with well-stocked supermarkets, even as reports of hoarding were making headlines in other nations.

With that being said, the kingdom successfully navigated the crisis and is today on the road to the new normal, thanks to its decisive policymaking, strong governance, and a robust healthcare system.

Nationwide detection programme

On 30 March, at the start of the pandemic, King Salman bin Abdulaziz decreed that coronavirus treatment must be available for free to anyone in need of medical care, including those who reside in the kingdom illegally.

Soon after, a high-level multisectoral committee, headed by the Minister of Health, was established to evaluate the situation and to take timely action. Updates were communicated to the general public to promote transparency and build trust.

Initially, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing capacity in the kingdom neared 1,000 tests per day and has increased to 95,000, with the daily average performed tests reaching 65,000.

As of 21 July, health authorities conducted over 3.5 million laboratory tests for COVID-19.

The kingdom further opened free mass testing drive-through test centres in major cities, including Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, and Jeddah, and activated (Tetamman) Clinics that function as fever clinics - in over 230 locations across the country for patients showing symptoms.

Additionally, it increased the number of laboratories providing COVID-19 PCR testing from 1 to 51 labs covering all regions.

As for the capacity, the kingdom expanded its ability to admit critical and non-critical patients, adding more than 2,500 fully equipped beds to its intensive care (IC) capacity in only three months, which is 30% higher than the ICU capacity that has been built over the years. 

In parallel, skilled health care workers were being recruited and thousands of health care workers and volunteers are being trained or retrained to assist in overcoming the crisis. New technologies were utilised to care for the critically ill, such as the oxygen helmet and the high flow nasal cannula.

Saudi Arabia began its phase I clinical trial on a vaccine candidate for MERS-CoV as well as the MIRACLE trial which has been ongoing to evaluate antiviral therapeutics in severely infected MERS patients.                     

The road to the new normal

Some of the most notable containment measures implemented by the kingdom during the pandemic period include the closure of schools, universities, and commercial outlets, the prohibition of public gatherings, besides the complete lockdowns imposed on major cities and partial curfews enacted on smaller cities. Employees were given flexible working hours and work-from-home routines, and use of face masks in public was mandated to support the kingdom’s focus on pandemic management.

Currently, COVID-19 mortality rate within the kingdom is approximately 0.9%, significantly lower than the global rate now observed between 4% and 5%.

The success of the systematic approach, underpinned by tracking indicators such as readiness of the health system to tackle the pandemic, managing community spread, the efficiency of the healthcare system, and performance effectiveness, is evidenced by the kingdom returning to normalcy in just 73 days.

With all safety protocols in place, commercial activities, mosques, malls, recreational facilities, and restaurants have returned to normal and the ban on domestic flights was lifted.

The successful response of Saudi Arabia in managing the crisis today serves as a roadmap in healthcare crisis management for the world.