Several Gulf countries have taken preventive and precautionary measures to combat the new coronavirus (COVID - 19) including the suspension of recreational, cultural, educational and other sports events and activities.
Saudi Arabia announced suspending all international flights for two weeks starting from March 15 in a drive against the spread of the global coronavirus.
“The Kingdom’s government has decided to suspend international flights for travelers – excluding exceptional cases – for two weeks,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
An official source from the Saudi Ministry of Interior said the period between March 15 and 30 will be considered an official holiday for all residents and citizens who are unable to return due to the suspension of flights.
The Saudi sports ministry also announced on Saturday it was suspending indefinitely events and activities throughout the Kingdom due to the new outbreak. It has closed sports centers and venues until further notice.
On Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Health said it recorded 17 new cases, infected with Covid-19. The first case was of a citizen coming from Iran, currently isolated in a health facility, in Al-Ahsa and that the second case was of a citizen, who is now in quarantine, who was in contact with a previously announced case, which is isolated in a hospital, in Qatif.
Third and fourth cases were citizens from Qatif Governorate, coming from Italy and Iran, who are isolated in a health facility, in Qatif, too.
The ministry stated that the fifth case was of a female citizen quarantined, in Jeddah, which was also coming from Iran.
There are 12 cases of the novel Coronavirus now, in Riyadh, including 3 cases of citizens who were in contact with previously announced cases, one was a case of a US resident, who was in contact with a case previously announced, 3 cases were of citizens coming from the UK, and 4 other cases of citizens coming from France, as well as a case for a French resident, coming from France via the Emirates
The Ministry of Health stated that the total number of cases has reached 103, of which one had recovered, and that the rest of the cases are now, in isolation.
UAE
The General Authority of Civil Aviation in the UAE announced the suspension of all incoming and outgoing flights to Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq from March 17 until further notice.
Also, major cultural and tourist sites were announced closed in Abu Dhabi from March 15 to the end of the month, in efforts to contain the new outbreak.
Meanwhile, UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced the full recovery of three additional individuals from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 23.
The Ministry said in a statement that the recovered - two Emiratis and an Indian - were now "symptom-free" after receiving the necessary healthcare in the hospital.
Kuwait
Kuwaiti Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basil Al-Sabah announced the recovery of two new cases infected with coronavirus, bringing the number of cases that recovered to seven.
Kuwait recorded four cases who tested positive for the virus raising the number of those infected to 104.
Al-Sabah confirmed that, in the past hours, up to 58 individuals were removed from quarantine after all necessary producers were taken and after all cases tested negative. This brings the number of cases who were removed from quarantine to 129.
The Supreme Judicial Council of Kuwait has decided that court hearings will be restricted to sessions for renewing detention sentences only.
Bahrain
Bahrain's Ministry of Health announced the recovery of 16 cases infected with Covid-19. 11 Bahraini citizens, and two Saudi, Egyptian, Moroccan, and Greek citizens. They were removed from the isolation and treatment center after receiving the necessary treatment. This brings the total number of recovering cases to 60 cases so far in Bahrain.
The ministry stated that it was decided to remove the cases after conducting laboratory tests and to ensure that they are free of the virus.
Qatar
The Ministry of Public Health announced the registration of 17 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, stressing that the new cases are linked to cases that have been previously discovered among expatriate workers who are in quarantine.
The Qatari authorities announced suspending visa services for travelers from Italy, France, Germany, and Spain until further notice.
Oman
Oman decided to suspend study across all educational institutions in the Sultanate at all levels for one month, starting March 15.
