Saudi Arabia has registered its highest daily number of new Covid-19 infections so far, health ministry data showed, breaking through 5,000 cases on Wednesday.

Cases in the kingdom, which has the Gulf's largest population at around 35 million, have risen dramatically since the start of the year with the global spread of the Omicron variant, Reuters reports.

The kingdom on Wednesday reported 5,362 new cases and two deaths, rising above the previous peak of daily infections in June 2020 of 4,919. Mask wearing in public in Saudi Arabia has been compulsory since the start of the year.

Saudi police member checks pilgrims for vaccination details on their smartphone, after Saudi authorities announced the easing of coronavirus disease restrictions, at the Grand Mosque in holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, October 17, 2021. — Reuters
Saudi police member checks pilgrims for vaccination details on their smartphone, after Saudi authorities announced the easing of coronavirus disease restrictions, at the Grand Mosque in holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, October 17, 2021. — Reuters

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