# 8474
Earlier today in The Battle To Control Online MERS Messaging, I wrote about attempts by the Saudi and UAE governments to control the flow of information in the media, and on twitter, regarding their MERS outbreaks.
It now appears that the Saudi Government has decided to impose even more restrictions on media coverage, by restricting the media to only publishing `official’ statements from the MOH.
Two reports. First from the Saudi Press Agency:
15:59 LOCAL TIME 12:59 GMT
Crown Prince Chairs Cabinet's Session 2 Riyadh
The cabinet was also briefed on a report by the Minister of Health on the status of the virus Corona and the efforts made by the ministry in this regard. The Council of Ministers was reassured on the health situation in general and the situation of the province of Jeddah after the inspection tour of the Minister of Health of a number of hospitals of the ministry in Jeddah province, stressing that the situation concerning the virus Coruna is reassuring.
The Council stresses on the media to adhere to all of the issued instructions not to publish any news concerning this virus or any epidemic disease except through the approved official department at the Ministry of Health.
And the story is also carried by http://www.okazalyoum.com/news/ with the headline:
Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of his Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister, on Monday, the media all abide by the instructions not to publish any news regarding this virus or any epidemic disease, but by the official of the Ministry of health.
<SNIP>
And briefed the Council on the report of the Minister of health on the development of the corona virus and the efforts of the Ministry, and was assured of the overall health status and setting of Jeddah after an inspection tour of health for a number of hospitals in the governorate of Jeddah, adding that the situation for coronavirus reassuring.
The Council stresses the media all abide by the instructions not to publish any news regarding this virus or any epidemic disease only through the official at the Ministry of health
As you might expect, this announcement is making quite a stir on the twitter feed from Saudi Arabia, with many people clearly not pleased with this edict.
