Kuwait adds Japan and Singapore to suspended flight list

Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended all flights to and from Iraq, South Korea, Thailand,  Singapore, Japan, and Italy.

The decision is in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s instructions following the announcement that several cases tested positive for the new coronavirus (COVID-19), DGCA said on its official Twitter page.

All passengers who have been in the mentioned countries over the last two weeks will not be allowed to enter Kuwait, even if they have valid visas, while Kuwaitis arriving from them will undergo a quarantine period.

The directorate further added that no entry visas will be issued for those coming from the said countries.

The list of banned countries includes Singapore, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, South Korea, Thailand and Italy.

It is noteworthy that Kuwait’s cabinet advised a team led by the health minister to follow up with the developments of the China virus and to take all necessary measures to contain it.

In addition, Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) announced banning entry of ships arriving from Iraq to the ports of Shuaiba, Shuwaikh, and Doha until further notice.

On Monday, the preliminary tests conducted on passengers arriving from Iran indicated three confirmed cases carrying the coronavirus, including a 53-year-old Kuwaiti citizen and a 61-year-old Saudi national.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of coronavirus for a Bahraini citizen arriving from Iran.