Corona outbreak: Kuwait suspends flights to seven countries

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Cases of the virus, which causes the respiratory disease Covid-19, have now been reported in more than 90 countries. Kuwait has suspended all flights to and from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, and Sri-Lanka for a week starting from today (March 7). In a tweet by Kuwait’s civil aviation directorate, Kuwait has also banned the entry of anyone who has been in the seven countries in the last two weeks except for Kuwaitis coming from the seven countries, who will be allowed entry but will have to submit to quarantine procedures. The Maldivian government halted direct flights from Italy, in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19. Speaking at a press conference held late Friday, Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed noted that sanctions will be in effect from today onwards. Meanwhile in Italy, the death toll from the new coronavirus in Italy has risen to 197 after the largest daily increase in fatalities there since the outbreak began. Officials said 49 people had died in 24 hours, while more than 4,600 cases have been reported in total. The country has now reported the most deaths outside of China. In California, 21 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed on the Grand Princess cruise ship that is being held off the coast near San Francisco. Globally, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University - with at least 3,070 deaths in China and at least 267 fatalities in other parts of the globe.