Kuwait Reports 2 New Coronavirus Cases

Gulf

February 26th, 6:00am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Members of Kuwait's national guard wearing safety masks keep watch outside a hotel in the capital where Kuwaitis returning from Iran are quarantined and tested for coronavirus COVID-19, on February 24, 2020. (Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP)

Kuwait announced on Wednesday there were two new coronavirus cases in the country, with the infections occurring among people returning from Iran. The new cases bring the total number to 11 in Kuwait, according to a statement by the health ministry. Kuwait has barred foreign ships, except those carrying oil, from departing to or arriving from several countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to a notice seen by Reuters on Wednesday. The notice, dated Feb. 25, has banned ships from and to South Korea, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Iraq. Oil sector ships are excluded from the ban, the authorities said in a separate notice dated Feb. 25 and seen by Reuters. Meanwhile, an official from the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority told Reuters that the United Arab Emirates is "well prepared and equipped for the worst case scenarios" as the coronavirus spreads in Middle East. The UAE has enough facilities to quarantine patients and relevant bodies have been instructed to undertake "a complete surveillance of all people entering the country", the official said. The UAE has reported 13 people have been diagnosed with the infection, of whom three have recovered and two are in critical condition.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2150121/kuwait-reports-2-new-coronavirus-cases