A 74-year-old Saudi man has died in Riyadh following Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) coronavirus infection, a report said.

Another senior senior citizen infected by the virus is currently under intensive care, a report in the Arab News said quoting the Ministry of Health (MoH) Command & Control Centre report.

It said the new cases were reported to the centre in the 24 hours ending Monday noon.

With these two new cases, the total number of confirmed Mers cases in Saudi Arabia since 2012, rose to 722, a report in the Arab news confirmed.

Of the total, 299 have died, 396 have recovered, and 27 are still under treatment, it said.

Concerns are being raised about the pilgrimage in Ramadan and during October’s Haj, when millions of people will travel to Makkah and Medina, said a statement.

Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization have said that they are imposing no travel or other restrictions during the Haj due to Mers, discouraging very young or old pilgrims, and those suffering from chronic disease, to come this year, it said. - TradeArabia News Service