Kuwait to suspend all flights from Friday until further notice

Kuwait will be suspending all commercial flights to and from Kuwait International Airport from Friday until further notice starting Friday, March 13, 2020, state news agency KUNA reported.

“Flight arrivals are restricted to Kuwaitis and their first degree relatives, with the exception of cargo planes,” KUNA said in a tweet.

Kuwait will also ban all gatherings at  restaurants and cafes, including shopping malls, according to the state news agency.

“All flights will be suspended from mid-Friday and operational regulation and evacuation plans will be issued later,” Kuwait Interior Minister Anas al-Saleh said.

“All decisions made in connection with the new coronavirus are temporary and will change on a daily basis according to circumstances and repercussions,” he added.

The minister said that it was unfortunate that some people were not complying with quarantine measures, adding that those people will be held legally accountable.

Kuwait gov’t bans gatherings at restaurants, coffee shops

It also announced a public holiday from March 12 to March 26. These steps have been taken to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Kuwait has also said that it will not allow residents to meet in restaurants, cafes and commercial centres, according to the Kuwait News Agency said.

The ministry of Islamic affairs will disseminate messages “warning on the dangers of gatherings” and informing worshippers on how to avoid infections at mosques.

Banks in Kuwait to shut doors up until March 26

Banks in Kuwait will close their doors as of Thursday, March 12, and will reopen on Sunday, March 29, Kuwait Banking Association (KBA) announced Wednesday, after the government decided to
suspend work in government departments for same period KBA Board Chairman Adel Al-Majed said only one branch of every bank would be open in every Governorate.