RIYADH, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia registered Monday five new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) corona virus cases, including two critical ones, the Health Ministry said.

The ministry warned public to take extra care of the virus recently as it could spread fast during the current transitional weather, Arab News reported.

With the rise in the number of corona virus cases, Saudi Arabia has stepped up precautionary measures against the virus that killed 372 individuals out of 891 cases in the country since 2012.

Medics and paramedics who had contacted the corona virus patients are banned to travel outside the country during the first two weeks of their contact with the infected patients, said Khalid Obaid Bawakid, vice president of the Command and Control Center of the ministry.

"Even after two weeks, they will take a clinical test to ensure they are free of the infection if they want to travel overseas," Bawakid added. Enditem