RIYADH: Health chiefs urged Saudis on Wednesday to ensure that they were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after the number of daily cases in the Kingdom more than tripled in four days.

Saudi Arabia reported 3,045 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, compared with 846 on Saturday, Jan. 1.

In a surge in infections fueled by the omicron variant of the virus, the number of new cases has increased almost tenfold in just over a month, from only 34 on Dec. 1. A total of 109 COVID-19 patients are in a critical condition in hospital.

While the omicron variant of the virus is less likely to cause serious illness or death, the Ministry of Health urged Saudis to receive a booster shot to avoid acute complications.

Meanwhile there have been complaints that some private healthcare providers are cashing in on soaring demand for PCR tests by increasing prices. “The labs are taking advantage of the spike in COVID-19 cases and charging much more than the usual rates,” Abdulaziz Ahmed, a private sector employee, told Arab News. 

When Ahmed visited a testing lab in Riyadh on Wednesday, they told him the system was down and asked him to come back in two hours. By the time he returned the price had doubled. “This is insane,” he said.

A shortage of COVID-19 test kits and pressure on laboratory facilities is causing issues worldwide, particularly in the UK, Spain, Italy and Israel.

Many health authorities are switching to less accurate rapid lateral flow tests from the more comprehensive PCR tests. Lateral flow tests can be used at home and give an indication of infection within half an hour.