Saudi Arabia will pay China 995 million riyals ($264.6 million) to provide coronavirus tests and medical expertise, Abdullah Al-Rabiah, chairman of the Negotiation and Purchase Committee said Sunday, citing a royal decree.
The deal will provide the Saudis nine million kits with a capacity to test 50,000 people per day. China will also help the kingdom with 500 medical experts, running six laboratories, including a portable lab.
The committee has also purchased tests from other companies in the U.S., Switzerland and South Korea, bringing the number of targeted tests to 14.5 million -- roughly 40% of Saudi Arabia’s population.
The kingdom has reported 17,522 virus cases, including 139 fatalities. It has only recently relaxed curfew rules in some parts for the holy month of Ramadan.
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