Riyadh, May 26 (IANS) Saudi Arabia has announced the gradual ease of precautionary measures against the COVID-19, the media reported.

The gradual steps, with social distancing regulations obeyed, will start from Thursday and expand until the situation is back to normal, the Saudi Press Agency quoted Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah as saying on Monday, Xinhua reported.

The easing will be based on medical reports of the spread of the virus, Rabiah added.

Saudi Arabia has controlled the spread of the virus through early precautionary measures, especially maintaining a low death rate, he noted.

The health ministry announced on Monday 2,235 new coronavirus cases, raising the number of infections to 74,795.

The death toll rose to 399 after nine fatalities were reported since Sunday, while the recoveries reached 45,668.

On April 15, a team of eight Chinese medical experts visited the kingdom to assist its anti-coronavirus fight.

--IANS pgh/