WATCH: Saudi doctor breaks down in tears after refusing son's hug over coronavirus fears

WATCH: Saudi doctor breaks down in tears after refusing son's hug over coronavirus fears
Health care workers around the world are facing unprecedented working conditions as hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of seriously ill Covid-19 patients.
2 min read
28 March, 2020
A Saudi doctor breaks down upon returning home to his family [Twitter/@Doranimated]
A video of an alleged doctor in Saudi Arabia telling his son to maintain his distance upon his return home has gone viral on Twitter.

The video, which shows the Saudi doctor's son running up to greet him only to be told by his father to stay away over fears of transmitting coronavirus, has been watched over six million times as of Saturday.

"A Saudi doctor returns home from the hospital, tells his son to keep his distance, then breaks down from the strain," the post read.

The doctor, who is wearing blue hospital scrubs, says "La, la", meaning "no" in Arabic, before collapsing to the ground and crying into his hands as his son looks on.

The New Arab cannot confirm the authenticity of the video.

Health care workers around the world are facing unprecedented working conditions as hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of seriously ill Covid-19 patients. 

Saudi Arabia, which has reported the highest number of infections in the Gulf, has taken serious measures to stem the spread of the virus. 

The kingdom, which has recorded over 1,100 cases and three deaths, sealed off the capital Riyadh and two of Islam's holiest cities and extended curfew hours Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia began implementing an 11-hour nationwide curfew - starting at 7 pm - to limit the spread of the deadly Covid-19 illness on Monday.

The Arab world's biggest economy has also closed down cinemas, malls and restaurants, halted flights and suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage as it steps up efforts to contain the virus.


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