Kuwait records new high of 2,413 coronavirus cases

Kuwait records new high of 2,413 coronavirus cases

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: Newly-appointed Health Minister Khaled Al-Saeed yesterday tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed under home quarantine for 10 days, the health ministry announced. The minister, who was a top official on the health ministry committee fighting the pandemic before his appointment to the Cabinet last week, attended a Cabinet meeting on Monday. He also attended National Assembly meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Under Kuwaiti health protocol rules, all those who contacted the minister must undergo home quarantine for at least 10 days, besides undergoing the necessary COVID-19 tests. The health ministry yesterday reported 2,413 new coronavirus cases, the largest number on a single day since the outbreak of the pandemic almost two years ago. The ministry said that the percentage of infection has soared to 8.8 percent from just under one percent two weeks ago.

The tally of new cases yesterday is more than all cases reported in the two months that preceded the new wave which began two weeks ago, according to official figures. The COVID-19 ministerial emergency committee met yesterday to discuss the new escalation in coronavirus cases and to look into measures needed to curb the surge in new cases. The health ministry also said