Kuwait suspends all flights from March 13, Qatar reports over 230 new coronavirus cases

Kuwait has declared that it will be suspending all flights from Friday, March 13 until further notice.

The arrivals have been restricted to Kuwaiti citizens and their first degree relatives. Cargo planes have been excluded, Kuwait News Agency tweeted.

تعليق رحلات الطيران التجاري من والى مطار الكويت الدولي اعتبارا من يوم الجمعة حتى اشعار اخر
وقصر رحلات القادمين على الكويتيين واقاربهم من الدرجة الاولى ويستثنى من ذلك طائرات الشحن#كونا #الكويت
(ش.ث)

— كـــــــــــونا KUNA (@kuna_ar) March 11, 2020

In an attempt to curb the spread of the contagion, the government has also announced a public holiday from March 12 to March 26.

Kuwait cabinet decides a public holiday from March 12 to 26 over coronavirus#KUNA #KUWAIT
(S.T)

— kuna (@kuna_en) March 11, 2020

Meanwhile, Qatar has reported 238 new cases of the coronavirus infection, its Ministry of Public Health confirmed on Wednesday, March 11.

وزارة الصحة العامة تعلن عن حالات إصابة جديدة بفيروس كورونا (#كوفيد-19)
الدوحة في 11 مارس /قنا/ أعلنت وزارة الصحة العامة اليوم عن تسجيل 238 حالة اصابة جديدة مؤكدة بفيروس كورونا 2019 (#كوفيد-19) في دولة #قطر لوافدين من المخالطين للحالات الثلاث التي تم الإعلان عن اصابتهم بالفيروس

— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) March 11, 2020

“The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) announced today ​ in a press conference the registration of 238 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Qatar for expatriates that have had contact with the three cases that were announced previously on Sunday, residing in one residential complex. Total confirmed cases now is 262,” a statement on the ministry’s website read.

On Wednesday, Bahrain also reported 77 new coronavirus cases amid the 165 repatriated citizens from Iran, bringing the total number of those infected in the country to 189.

Read more: GCC coronavirus update – Total cases near 300, more than 50 recoveries