The Qatari government’s donation of 8.5 tons of medical supplies arrived in Kabul on Tuesday and was handed over to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

According to the MoPH, the supplies include masks, gloves, other preventive items and medical equipment. Health authorities have praised Qatar’s assistance to Afghanistan, adding that the much-needed aid will prove to be very crucial as the country continues to combat the Coronavirus.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) received 250 RNA extraction kits from the World Health Organization (WHO) that can be used to conduct 42,000 COVID-19 tests. The SARS-COV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is an RNA virus. One of the critical steps in detecting the disease is by confirming the presence of the virus in the sample taken from the throat or nose using an RNA Extraction Kit.

MoPH, in a press release, said that Muhammad Dawood Iltaf, a representative of WHO, handed over the kits to the health authorities. The Deputy Minister for Healthcare Service Delivery, MoPH, Wahid Majrooh said the kits will be used for diagnosing suspected patients infected with the Coronavirus.

This comes as more than 7,600 people have been infected with the Coronavirus in the country.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) says at least 581 new cases of the coronavirus have been registered in the country in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 7,658.

Based on MoPH’s count, five COVID-19 patients have died of the virus during the past 24 hours and 49 others have recovered. This brings the death toll to 178 along with 850 recovered patients.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced that the Afghan Health Minister, Ferozuddin Firoz has recovered from the coronavirus.

MoPH in a press release late on Monday night said the result of second corona test of the health minister confirmed negative.

According to the press release, the health condition of Mr. Firuz is now satisfactory.

MoPH added that the Health Minister will soon return back to work.