Riyadh, May 20, 2020, SPA -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas. Al-Yaum newspaper reported in its editorial that the COVID-19 recovery rate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exceeded 50%, as the Kingdom called on the international community to take bold and immediate measures to reduce the loss of lives, affirming the importance of international cooperation in eradicating the pandemic. The paper added that the Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said in a speech before the 73rd World Health Assembly that the country has taken very important precautions and steps at the national level and at the highest level of state leadership and very early in the COVID-19 crisis. These precautions were evident in delaying the virus's entry to Saudi Arabia, which reduced the effects of the pandemic, as a result of which the deaths caused by the virus decreased and the health system has a high capacity to contain it in health facilities. The paper concluded that that Minister said that the Kingdom has taken effective steps in the field of cooperation with the international community to combat the pandemic, as all steps were based on adhering to international health regulations, responding to the call of G20 leaders during the virtual summit on March 26, and to bridge the current financing gap to confront the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has contributed $ 500 million to support international efforts in combating the pandemic, including the global health system, allocating $ 80 million for global emergency response activities, developing health systems and training, and supporting early warning and epidemic and pandemic response, in response to the WHO's call. --SPA 09:14 LOCAL TIME 06:14 GMT 0004 www.spa.gov.sa/w1333996