KUWAIT: Kuwait registered 478 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, raising the tally to 54,058, with three people succumbing to the disease as the death toll reached 386, the health ministry said on Saturday. Of those infected, Kuwaiti nationals (310) occupy 64.85 percent alongside non-Kuwaitis (168) at 35.15 percent, ministry spokesman Abdullah Al-Sanad said.

The figures include people, who have come into contact with infected individuals, and others whose source of infection is currently being investigated. In terms of health zones, cases were reported in Al-Ahmadi, 93 in Jahra, 90 in Farwaniya and 53 in the Capital, while 38 infections were recorded in Hawalli, added the spokesman. As for the top six areas with the highest infection numbers, he listed Sabahiya with 25 cases, Riqqa (25), Sulaibiya (24), Al-Dhahar (22), Jaber Al-Ali (21) and Al-Qosoor (19).

He went on to reveal that 150 cases are currently in the intensive care unit, while the number of "active cases" stands at 9,711. Kuwait has ramped up its coronavirus testing capacity, with 2,495 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, out of a total of 429,501, added the spokesman.

Meanwhile, some 747 people recovered from the virus in the last day, upping the total number of those to have overcome the disease to 43,961, he said. He reiterated the strict need to abide by health precautions, urging nationals and expatriates alike that following social distancing rules is the only way to keep the virus at bay. - KUNA