RIYADH: A Saudi doctor has paid a heavy price for being on the frontlines of the Kingdom’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as he and his family tested positive for the virus.
“Never did I imagine that I would harm my mother and my brothers, nor could I ever imagine that one day we would all be in the hospital because of me!” Dr. Omar Hafiz wrote on Twitter.
“I feel guilty for transmitting the virus to my mother and brothers. O Lord, I only left home to serve and help the people, bestow your mercy on us and heal us completely.”
He also shared two photos: One of himself wearing a mask giving a thumbs up and another of his mother covering her head with a headscarf and reading the Holy Qur’an.
Hafiz’s tweet was shared over 9,000 times and received 3,700 comments from people who expressed their gratitude and appreciation for his work.
Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah wished Hafiz and his family a speedy recovery. “Society appreciates you and all the health practitioners for your sacrifices,” he tweeted.
On Wednesday, Al-Rabiah had also taken to Twitter to mark International Nurses Day. “To my colleagues in the nursing profession, I would like to extend my deep appreciation and gratitude on the #InternationalNursesDay, and every day, for your devotion and dedication,” he wrote. “You are a cornerstone of our health system, and our #HealthChampions.”
