RIYADH: Saudi Arabia recorded 16 new COVID-19 related deaths on Thursday, raising the total number of fatalities to 7,440. The Ministry of Health confirmed 1,144 new confirmed cases reported in the Kingdom in the previous 24 hours, meaning 456,562 people have now contracted the disease.  Of the total number of cases, 9,663 remain active and 1,539 in critical condition. According to the ministry, the highest number of cases were recorded in Makkah with 374, followed by the capital Riyadh with 271, the Eastern Province with 147, Asir recorded 92, and Madinah confirmed 71 cases. The health ministry also announced that 1,253 patients had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 439,459. #الصحة ⁩ تعلن عن تسجيل (1144) حالة إصابة جديدة بفيروس كورونا (كوفيد-19)، وتسجيل (16) حالات وفيات رحمهم الله، وتسجيل (1253) حالة تعافي ليصبح إجمالي عدد الحالات المتعافية (439,459) حالة ولله الحمد. pic.twitter.com/qNK9fmnZO0 — و ز ا ر ة ا لـ صـ حـ ة السعودية (@SaudiMOH) June 5, 2021 The ministry renewed its call on the public to register to receive the vaccine, and adhere to the measures and abide by instructions. Police in Madinah said they arrested 53 people, Jazan police arrested 54 people, five people were arrested in the Northern Borders Province, and police in Tabuk said they arrested 18 people for flouting quarantine rules after they tested positive for COVID-19. Penalties for individuals who violate quarantine instructions include a fine of up to SR200,000 ($53,332) and/or up to two years imprisonment, and penalties are doubled for repeat offenders. If the violation was committed by an expat, they face deportation from the Kingdom and are permanently banned from re-entry. Legal proceedings have been taken against and penalties have been imposed on all those arrested. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs reopened seven mosques in four regions after temporarily evacuating and sterilizing them after some people tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of mosques closed and reopened after being sterilized to 1,500 within 119 days. The coronavirus pandemic has affected over 173 million people globally and the death toll has reached around 3.72 million.