RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced another two deaths from COVID-19 and 5,628 new infections on Friday. Numbers of confirmed cases have increased sharply in recent weeks as the more-transmissible omicron variant spreads. The total number of recoveries in the Kingdom increased to 558,546 after 3,511 more patients recovered from the virus. A total of 8,903 people have now died from the virus in the Kingdom so far. The Saudi health ministry is continuing with the Kingdoms vaccination plan, and more than 53 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine have been administered in the Kingdom to date. Saudi Arabia recenrly updated its COVID-19 restrictions, announcing new fines of SR1,000 ($266) for those who flout social distancing rules, and SR100,000 ($266,000) for repeat offenders.