KUWAIT: Kuwait's Ministry of Health said yesterday 857 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the past 24 hours while two persons died of COVID-19. Ministry spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said that total deaths reached 548 and registered infections increased to 91,244. He said distribution of cases over health zones was as follows: 226 in Hawally, 208 in Ahmadi, 156 in Farwaniya, 152 in the Capital and 115 in Jahra.

The ministry had announced earlier the recovery of 617 COVID-19 patients in the past 24 hours, raising total recoveries to 81,654. Dr Sanad said 89 people were in the intensive care units, adding that the number of people receiving treatment is 9,042. Furthermore, Dr Sanad said health care workers conducted 5,048 swab tests in the past 24 hours to increase tests taken since the outbreak to 653,099. Dr Sanad called on the public to remain vigilant and abide by social distancing and health regulations.

Separately, the Ministry of Health issued a decision banning the imports of masks that have exhalation a valve or vent to medical facilities, and that for medical reasons. The decision is based on a recommendation from the ministry's infection prevention and sterilization department, indicating that these type of masks do not comply with standards for medical masks as they do not prevent the virus from spreading out of the mask, the ministry said in a statement posted on its social media accounts.