UAE reports 403 new cases and 679 recoveries

Oman to launch nationwide random testing as new infections remain high

A Moroccan woman confined at home, peeks out a window in the southern port city of Safi during a lockdown ordered by the authorities following the detection of several new Covid-19 cases. AFP

A man confined at home watches as a Moroccan municipal worker disinfects his street in the southern port city of Safi on June 9, 2020, during a lockdown ordered by the authorities following the detection of several new cases of Covid-19. AFP

A man stands with a prayer rug on his shoulder as Jordanian medics get ready to perform a coronavirus test, in front of Husseini Mosque, before the Friday prayer in central Amman, Jordan. EPA

A Jordanian medic performs a coronavirus test, in front of Husseini Mosque, before the Friday prayer in central Amman, Jordan. EPA

A member of the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the 'White Helmets' disinfects a room at a physiotherapy centre in Syria's rebel-held northwest city of Idlib. AFP

Men fly a handmade kite from a roof, following the outbreak of the coronavirus, in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

Mask-clad worshippers, adequately distanced from each other, sing together a prayer song during a service at the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait City. AFP

A Saudi worshipper wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of Covid-19, prays at the Al Mirabi Mosque in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP

The UAE reported 403 new coronavirus cases on Saturday after conducting more than 58,000 more tests.

The new cases raised the country's total to 54,453, while the death toll from for Covid-19 in the Emirates reached 331 as one patient died after contracting the virus.

Authorities said another 679 patients had been given the all-clear, as the recovery tally moved to 44,648.

Saudi Arabia, the worst-affected country in the GCC, reported 2,994 new infection and more 30 deaths on Saturday, raising its tallies of cases and fatalities to 229,480 and 2,181, respectively. The number of active cases stood at 61,903 after 2,370 more patients recovered, the Saudi health ministry said.

Oman's health ministry announced the start of a nationwide random testing scheme from Sunday as it reported more than 1,000 new infections for a 12th day, raising its total to 54,697.

The ministry said Omanis and expatriates selected for testing would be informed by phone during the 10-weeks survey that is expected to cover all governorates.

The sultanate has recorded 248 deaths from Covid-19.

In Kuwait, the death toll rose to 386 after three more patients succumbed, while the number of confirmed infections rose to 54,058 with 478 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours.

Most of the new cases, 310, were Kuwaitis.

The Kuwaiti health ministry said another 747 patients had recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 43,961.

Bahrain's health ministry reported 511 new cases since Friday, 251 of them among expatriates, and one more death.

The ministry said there were 4,722 active cases after another 693 patients recovered, including 53 that who in critical condition.

Qatar reported 498 new cases after conducting 4,331 tests in the previous 24 hours, while the number of death so far remained at 146.

The health ministry said there were 701 more recoveries since Friday, raising the total to 98,934.

There were 141 patients in intensive care, including 11 admitted over the past day.