Coronavirus: Kuwait parliament to reconvene on June 16 with outbreak top of the agenda

Speaker says parliament's term to be extended because of disruption caused by outbreak

Vehicles drive down a highway in the Kuwaiti capital Kuwait City on May 31, 2020 after authorities eased some of the restrictions put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

The Kuwaiti parliament will reconvene on June 16 and discuss the government's response to the country's coronavirus outbreak as the first order of business, the speaker said on Monday.

Marzouq Al Ghanim said chairmen of the house committees were asked to resume meetings this week to finalise reports to be submitted for the next session. They will also ensure health measures for the session are properly implemented, the speaker said in a statement reported by the Kuwait News Agency.

Mr Al Ghanim said the first item on the agenda would be a report on the government's preparations and measures against the coronavirus.

The Parliamentary term would be extended to compensate for the suspension of sessions because of the outbreak, he said.

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Coronavirus in the Middle East

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  Saudis preform prayers at a mosque in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has allowed the reopening of mosques to prayer while observing social distance on May 31. EPA

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  A man wears a face shield and a face mask to in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

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  Wearing masks is mandatory in public places in Egypt. Reuters

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  Shops are closed in old Baghdad. AP Photo

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  A child walks on an empty street in the old city of the West bank town of Hebron. EPA

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  Elderly people sit on benches in the Maltepe Orhangazi city park in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

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  A woman wearing mask sits in a circle marked by the municipality to observe social distancing at the Maltepe Orhangazi city park in Istanbul. EPA

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  A view of empty street and closed shops in Hebron. EPA

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  Security forces close a street during a curfew to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in Baghdad. AP Photo

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  A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard at a checkpoint in Baghdad's eastern Sadr City suburb. AFP

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  Beirut residents gather at a closed swimming club along the seaside corniche. AFP

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  A sign reminds residents to remain vigilant, as they drive along a motorway in Kuwait City. AFP

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  Vehicles queue in front of a drive-through fast food restaurant in Kuwait City. AFP

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  A young boy dives into the sea in Beirut. AFP

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  Tunisian cooks prepare a local version of the doughnut, known as Bambalouni, in the village of Sidi Bou Said, northeast of Tunis. AFP

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  Workers wait under a bridge for odd jobs in Makkah. AFP

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Kuwait’s health ministry on Monday reported 719 new cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, bringing the number of infections in the country to 27,762.

The new figures emerged after 3,664 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.

Eight new deaths and 1,513 recovered cases bring the total tally to 220 deaths and 12,899 recoveries.

The ministry reported that 265 of the total infected patients are Kuwaiti, 156 Indian, 104 Egyptian and 48 Bangladeshi.

The number of confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia rose by 1,881 to 87,142, with 22 more deaths taking the kingdom's Covid-19 death toll to 525.

The Saudi health ministry said the number of patients who recovered rose by 1,864 to 64,306.

Oman’s Ministry of Health confirmed 786 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, bringing the number of infections in the country to 12,223.

Three new deaths and 286 recovered cases raised the tallies to 50 deaths and 2,682 recoveries.

Bahrain's health ministry announced 406 new infections and 387 recoveries on Monday.

Qatar reported 1,523 new infections, all among expatriate workers, raising its case total to 58,433

The death toll rose to 40 with two additional deaths since Sunday.