The Saudi Health Ministry registered on Sunday 21 new infections with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (coronavirus) during the past week.

The number of infections with corona virus has risen to 1,072 people,said the ministry in a statement.

The ministry said 588 cases have been discharged from hospitals, while 25 others are still under treatment.

The virus, better known as corona-virus, is new to humans and was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.