Kuwait launches drive-through COVID-19 testing centre at airport

Kuwait has launched its first drive-through coronavirus testing centre at the Kuwait International Airport to beef up the country's COVID-19 testing capability.

On the sideline of the centre's inauguration on Saturday night, Health Minister Bassel Al-Sabah said it will help increase the number of tests to discover unreported cases, reports Xinhua news agency.

The centre will randomly select 180 citizens and residents for testing per day, he said, adding it can receive 15 cars at a time.

The Ministry will cooperate with the Public Authority for the Civil Information to send the selected individual a text message with full details to conduct the testing, Al-Sabah noted.

The Kuwaiti government has imposed a full curfew in the country to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

On March 13, Kuwait suspended all commercial flights.

The government also closed stores, malls and barbershops in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

Kuwait has so far reported 13,802 COVID-19 cases, with 107 deaths.