[SPA] SPA Correspondent Al-Fih between Professional Duty and Responsibility in Transmitting COVID-19 Repercussions in Tabuk Region

By Mohammed Al-Fih

Tabuk, June 28, 2020, SPA -- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) Correspondent Mohammed Al-Fih has described the journalistic work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as exceptional and rapid while dealing with COVID-19 pandemic, which dramatically changed the life style of the Saudi society. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took the initiative to implement precautionary and preventive measures against the COVID-19 before reaching its territories through citizens returning home from countries that recorded cases of infection or declared as endemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). This initiative was based on Saudi Arabia's long experience in providing human crowds with health care during Hajj and Umrah seasons. As part of the precautionary and preventive measures, the Command and Control Center at the Ministry of Health monitors the developments of COVID-19 worldwide. Thus, a special committee was formed, comprising various vital government sectors, to provide the citizens and expatriates with daily reliable information on COVID-19 developments and launch awareness campaigns through SPA and other official media channels. Forming this committee has ensured the accuracy and credibility of information about COVID-19 developments. SPA Correspondent Mohammed Al-Fih works among the press team in Tabuk Region, one of Saudi Arabia’s thirteen regions. Since the first day of curfew which was effective on March 23, 2020, in Tabuk Region, the precautionary and preventive measures covered all daily works and activities and resulted in an almost deserted streets throughout the region. However, media professionals were permitted to cover life aspects during the curfew. Correspondent Al-Fih covered the implementation of the curfew supported by news, images and video footages. Before that, he was committed to the health regulations recommended by the Ministry of Health, such as wearing a mask, medical gloves while constantly changing it, using sterilizers, and when positioned in any location achieve physical spacing, all this became necessary to be an observer in the field, which required him to adapt behaviorally to these personal requirements. SPA correspondent work mechanism began to follow another approach that corresponds to the size of the health precautions provided on the ground for various aspects related to human health in Tabuk Region like the rest of the regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the relevant authorities were working according to a common vision that included the preventive approach by all possible means, providing treatment with the latest medicine, providing information with all transparency and promoting community awareness. With the commitment of the citizens and residents to remain in their homes, the correspondent was following the various tasks performed by the personnel of the relevant authorities in the field. Besides the security men, Al-Fih went to monitor the size of the efforts made in applying the curfew over the various residential neighborhoods and facilitating the flow of traffic, in addition to the humanitarian roles the security men play by providing assistance to emergencies and direct them. Since March 23, the pace of the work hasn’t subsided for SPA correspondent in Tabuk, as he coexist on a daily basis with the health situation in the region, and with the announcement of new cases of COVID-19, it was necessary to focus on strengthening the awareness side of the citizens and residents. He was alongside the "health heroes" as they were called in Saudi Arabia, receiving information and broadcast them to the recipients, in addition to transmitting the true image of the preparations and the readiness of health facilities and their cadres operating throughout the day. Saudi Arabia's leadership did not distinguish between citizens, residents, and violators of residency and labor regulations in providing health care and treatment during COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated the media work plan to focus on urging the violators and guiding them towards the correct ways to be under medical supervision. SPA Correspondent covered the humanitarian efforts that the security, municipal, and health sectors exerted in examining laborers and transferring them from inappropriate housing to other where safety features are available. Because the love of good and serving others is a feature of the Saudi Muslim society that is inherent to the various efforts working in the field, the press materials monitored volunteers of individuals and specialized teams supporting the health, service, organizational and charitable sector. Modern means of communication have helped to provide correspondents with information regularly. On the level of environmental sanitation, the news coverage continued in the municipal sector in disinfection and sterilization various sites throughout the region, as well as the precautionary regulations in supply centers and market during the allowed time. Al-Fih, along with the rest of SPA correspondents in the regions of the Kingdom, was providing SPA’s daily content with awareness news while supporting it with videos on its account on the Twitter, as a contribution in educating the society. Al-Fih did not mind responding to the calls that he received on his cell phone from family and friends or the calls received by SPA office in Tabuk Region. His journalistic profession obliged him to be a part of the national work and transmit the true image of what is being done from various government agencies, as well as enriching the community's educational side. The coverage of the Correspondent, Mohammed Al-Fih, extended to the families in their homes during this period, and he worked on transmitting the living reality that not everyone is accustomed to, as the Saudi society is more connected and characterized by the bonds of social relations and continuous meetings at the family or personal level. He monitored through press reports how the communication style has shifted from traditional to technological, supported by an infrastructure of advanced communication networks, which contributed to the life cycle flow and providing a remote work environment for employees in various public and private sector institutions and following up on their civil transactions and completing their procedures, it also contributed to the general and higher education students completing their curriculum. The families inside their houses dealt with the newsletters, the practices and programs that prevailed in society in order to invest time as citizens interacted with the various courses launched by many of the community institutions through visual communication technology, as well as individual works through knowledge enrichment and practicing artistic, sports and social hobbies, and highlighted the aspects of those interests which in turn reflects the extent of societal awareness of the importance of following preventive instructions and adherence to stay at home and the level of culture and its differences between individuals towards taking advantage of time. Disinfecting Saudi Streets Healthcare provided to the elderly Social distancing, precautionary and preventive measures applied in mosques