KUWAIT: Kuwait's confirmed novel coronavirus cases increased by 740 to 92,822, while four patients succumbed to the disease in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 556, a health ministry official said yesterday.

The figures include people who have come into contact with infected individuals, and others whose source of infection is currently being investigated, ministry spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said. In terms of health zones, 181 cases were reported in Hawalli, 154 in Al-Ahmadi, 150 in Farwaniya, 137 in the Capital and 118 in Jahra, added the official. Earlier, the ministry said 818 people have recovered from the virus, upping the total number of those to have overcome the disease to 83,040.

There are 90 people currently receiving intensive care for the virus out of a total 9,226 patients being hospitalized. Some 5,384 swab tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, out of a total of 663,135 so far, added the spokesman. The official reiterated the strict need to abide by health precautions, urging the public to follow social distancing rules as the only way to keep the virus at bay. - KUNA