MoH launches random virus testing in residential areas

Lockdowns end in Hawally, Khaitan • MPs welcome probe into airport project

KUWAIT: The health ministry said yesterday it will start random field testing for the coronavirus by sending teams to homes selected randomly in different residential areas. The ministry said in a statement the house visits will be from 5 pm to 11 pm daily and will cover all residential areas where expats and citizens reside. It asked people to demand the identification of the teams and cooperate with them.

The campaign comes after a steep rise in the number of cases reported in the country, especially among Kuwaitis, mainly in Jahra and Ahmadi governorates alongside Farwaniya governorate. The unexpected spread of the disease among citizens led the government on Thursday to delay moving into the second of a five-phase plan to gradually return to normal life.

The government said it will assess the situation and take an appropriate decision based on the new developments. The number of cases relatively dropped in the past two days but still remained high among Kuwaitis. But the government decided to ease curfew hours from 7 pm to 5 am daily and also decided to lift the total lockdowns of Hawally and Khaitan following a drop in numbers. Both decisions became effective early yesterday.

MP Omar Al-Tabtabaei yesterday welcomed a decision by Minister of Public Works Rana Al-Fares to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the reasons for the delay in the new airport project and find out those responsible for the delay. The lawmaker said that officials in the ministry have provided false facts about the progress of construction in the airport project in a bid to protect a former public works minister who resigned following a grilling.

MP Khalil Al-Saleh described the move as a step in the right direction, but said specialized people must be included. He called for announcing the outcome of the probe quickly and holding those responsible to account.

Meanwhile, MP Al-Humaidi Al-Subaei said yesterday that he will send parliamentary questions if the criminal investigation into suspected wrongdoing in the Eurofighter aircraft deal is shelved without pressing charges. He said he will inquire about the reasons for shelving the investigation and to make sure that the defense ministry has provided the public prosecution with all related documents. The ministry of defense referred the $9 billion deal to the public prosecution after allegations of corruption were raised.