Saudi Arabia Signs Deal with China to Conduct 9 Million Virus Tests

An aerial view shows deserted streets in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on April 21, 2020, as the message "stay home" is displayed on a tower during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. (Photo by BANDAR ALDANDANI / AFP)

Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed a deal with China to conduct 9 million tests for the coronavirus.

The Kingdom has so far recorded 17,522 cases of infection and 139 deaths.

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, KSrelief, signed the contract with China worth 995 million Saudi riyals ($264 million) to conduct 9 million COVID-19 tests.

The arrangement includes six laboratories to be set up across the country, 500 Chinese staff to be brought in, training for Saudi staff and auditing for eight months.