RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of SeniorScholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has reaffirmed that it is notpermissible for COVID-19 patients to mix with others.

He called upon all the people in the Kingdom to strictly comply with theprecautionary measures and preventive protocols announced by theauthorities to stem the spread of coronavirus, according to the SaudiGazette.

Sheikh said that health was one of the greatest blessings of God and peopleshould take care of their health.

“Islam has put in place preventive means to protect a person from gettingsick, and it made cleanliness half of the faith. Islam emphasizes theaspect of preventing diseases before they are infected and transmitted tohumans,” he pointed out.

As coronavirus infections and deaths continue to soar across the globe,Saudi Arabia announced nine more deaths from Covid-19 on Friday. Thecountry recorded 1098 new infections on Friday — 454 in Riyadh, 244 inMakkah, 171 in the Eastern Province, 44 in Asir, 42 in Madina, 28 in Tabuk,23 in Jazan, 20 in Hail, 13 in the Northern Borders region, 11 in Al-Joufand 10 in Najran — taking the total number of infections to 410,191.

As 1205 more patients recovered from the virus on Friday, the total numberof recoveries in the Kingdom increased to 393,671. At least 6,878 peoplehave succumbed to the virus in the Kingdom so far.