Kuwait extends partial coronavirus lockdown to April 22

Kuwait's month-long evening lockdown has been extended by two weeks to April 22, the country's Cabinet announced on Thursday.

Kuwait is experiencing its highest number of daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with 1,282 new infections recorded on Thursday.

Daily cases fell below 300 in December from almost 1,100 last May.

The original lockdown required Kuwaitis and residents to stay indoors from 5pm to 5am. Under new measures beginning on April 8, the evening lockdown will begin at 7pm.

Dr Abdullah Al Sanad, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said the rate of Kuwaitis contracting the virus was at 55 per cent, a drop from 68 per cent, the Kuwait Times reported.

The Cabinet also outlined a partial easing of measures for Ramadan, due to begin in mid-April.

Members of the public will be allowed to exercise outdoors between 7pm and 10pm, and shop at supermarkets between 7pm and 12am by using an online booking system.

Deliveries from restaurants, cafes and food stores would be allowed during the fasting month, between 7pm and 3am.

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