Kuwait suspends entry of non-citizens for two weeks

Kuwait said on Wednesday it will suspend entry for non-citizens for two weeks as of February 7, following a rise in coronavirus cases in the Gulf Arab state.

The cabinet decision, read out at a televised press conference, said all those entering the country would have to quarantine, report Reuters and Al Jazeera.

 Immediate relatives, such as parents and children, and accompanying domestic workers would be exempt from the entry ban and all those arriving in the country would have to quarantine, read a cabinet’s statement.

It also ordered the closure of gyms and salons and asked other commercial businesses to cease operating at 8:00pm local time (17:00 GMT), with the exception of pharmacies, supermarkets and other food stores.

The country has witnessed an increase in infections since January. On Wednesday, it reported 756 new cases in the previous 24 hours. The previous month, the country succeeded in keeping the spread at bay with daily cases falling below 300.

So far, Kuwait reported 167,410 infections and more than 960 COVID-related deaths.