RAJAB 13, 1441 AH SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 28 Pages Max 26º Min 13º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18077 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Flights suspended from 7 nations amid 3 new cases of coronavirus Worldwide cases hit 100,000 • Saudi limits arrivals, reopens Kaaba area • Iran MP dies KUWAIT: The health ministry announced yesterday the discovery of three new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, as the number of COVID-19 cases topped Eight children killed 100,000 worldwide. Health Ministry spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad indicated that all of the previously announced cases were in compulsory quarantine, in horrific house fire adding that all of them recently returned from Iran. The By Hanan Al-Saadoun number of those infected with the virus has reached 61 with one case of recovery thus far. The health ministry KUWAIT: Eight children died of suffocation denied rumors that one of the critical cases had died. after a fire gutted a house in Sabah Al-Ahmad Kuwait also suspended all flights to and from Egypt, yesterday. Firemen Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, and Sri rushed to the scene Lanka for a week starting yesterday, the civil aviation after receiving an directorate announced. Kuwait also banned the entry of emergency call at anyone who has been in the seven countries in the last 5:05 pm and res- two weeks except for Kuwaitis coming from the seven cued the children - countries, who will be allowed entry but will have to aged between 14 submit to quarantine procedures, the civil aviation years and eight directorate added. months - from inside Saudi Arabia limited yesterday land crossings with the house. They the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain to com- were all in very crit- mercial trucks only, with arrivals from the three coun- ical condition, and tries temporarily limited to three airports as a precau- later died in hospital, tion taken over the spread of the coronavirus, Saudi the Kuwait Fire news agency SPA reported. The three airports are King Service Directorate Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz said in a statement. KUWAIT: Video grab shows International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd An investigation has flames shooting out of the International Airport in Dammam, SPA added. been opened into window of a house in Sabah Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reopened yesterday the the incident. Al-Ahmad yesterday. area around the sacred Kaaba in Makkah’s Grand MAKKAH: Worshippers circumambulate the sacred Kaaba in the Grand Mosque yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 24 2 Local Sunday, March 8, 2020 Kuwait Fights Coronavirus Polyclinic requests backup to test expats returning to Kuwait for COVID-19 infection Search for unidentified shooter who targeted cop in Kabd By A Saleh highway, said security sources, noting that the unidenti- fied shooter was chasing the policeman’s vehicle when KUWAIT: Subhan polyclinic recently called for backup he pointed a gun at him and fired a few shots, including to help control crowds of recent expat returnees wish- one that hit the driver’s seat without injuring the police- ing to undergo precautionary medical tests, the Health man. The policeman filed a complaint providing detec- Ministry said yesterday. This came in response to tives with the shooter’s vehicle license plate number. A inquiries that many expats made after being told when case was filed and further investigations are in they returned to Kuwait from abroad that they had to progress. undergo tests to confirm they are free from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. “Expatriates were Booths regulation transferred to the Subhan polyclinic after they initially The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) went to the Rabiya and Ishbiliya polyclinics to undergo yesterday issued a decision organizing temporary sale necessary medical tests as a precautionary measure outlets (booths) in the terms of the conditions needed related to travel,” the ministry wrote on its social media to get related licenses. According to the new regula- accounts. Photos and video footage showing large tions, no booths will be allowed without prior licenses crowds of people waiting in line outside the Subhan from MoCI’s concerned department. The new regula- polyclinic circulated on social media yesterday, as hun- tions said only companies and individuals already dreds of expats, mostly Egyptians, returned to Kuwait licensed by MoCI to practice certain commercial activ- before a one-week ban on flights from their countries ities will be licensed to have their own temporary kicked in yesterday. Kuwait suspended all flights to and booths. from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, Philippines, MoCI added that interested licensees will apply with India, and Sri Lanka for a week starting yesterday, and full data including copies of their commercial licenses, that two days after it suspended a decision which layout of the location and the approvals of the complex required travelers from said countries to conduct and the municipality. MoCI also noted that licenses Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at certified clin- would be valid for a maximum 12 renewable months ics before coming to Kuwait. according to what the ministry deems fit and warned that the outlet or booth will be immediately closed in KUWAIT: A photo which circulated on social media yesterday shows a large crowd standing in line outside the Subhan Unidentified shooter case of violating the abovementioned regulations and polyclinic for precautionary medical tests. A policeman was shot at while driving along Kabd conditions. local spotlight Coronavirus in Kuwait: What we know so far KUWAIT: Kuwait has so far recorded 61 cases infected precautions against the potential spread of the virus. The Securing ports with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), all of which are In the meantime, Kuwait sent charter flights to bring Ministry of Commerce and Industry has taken measures Kuwaiti patients who returned to the country from Iran. back Kuwaitis from infected areas, mainly Iran, Italy and to make sure that facial masks, hand sanitizers and other With the exception of two cases Kuwaiti women in their Thailand, and test them before entering the country. goods remain accessible to the public. Meanwhile, the 70s who have been admitted to the intensive care unit Meanwhile, authorities have stopped issuing all kinds of Ministry of Education has suspended classes for the first with pneumonia, all cases are in stable condition and are visas (visit, work, etc) for Egyptian nationals, while two weeks of March at all public and private schools (for recovering in quarantined locations designated by the allowing those who already have a visa to enter only both students and teaching staffs). In the meantime, the By Muna Al-Fuzai government for this purpose, while two people have been after they take tests in Cairo before coming to Kuwait. In Civil Service Commission suspended the biometric fin- discharged after exhibiting no symptoms during their 14- the meantime, Iraq has suspended flights from Kuwait, gerprint system for staff attendance until further notice. day quarantine period, the Ministry of Health confirmed. whereas Saudi Arabia stopped issuing umrah visas for all Meanwhile, a 34-year-old Kuwaiti man has recovered nationalities as a precautionary measures. Furthermore, Hotlines completely after previously been infected with the virus, Kuwait suspended all flights for a week starting March 7 The Ministry of Health has set the following hotlines [email protected] the ministry said. Kuwait is taking measures to test to and from the following countries: to receive inquiries about the coronavirus 24/7: Kuwaitis coming from infected areas for potential infec- - Egypt 24970967 - 96049698 - 99048619. tion, as it has already tested over 3,100 people, the over- - Lebanon whelming majority of them have returned from Iran. - Syria The Education Ministry set the following hotlines to ast week, I like many others was calling on the gov- - Bangladesh receive inquiries on school closures related to the anti- ernment to take all necessary measures to protect Countries’ ban list - Philippines coronavirus measures: the population in Kuwait from the risk of the spread L As a precautionary measure against the spread of the - India of the coronavirus. One of those popular demands was the virus, Kuwait has suspended flights from and to the fol- - Sri Lanka - 24970967 (24/7 hotline) closure of air links with countries where there are cases of lowing countries: - 51575591 (Capital Educational Zone) persons infected with the coronavirus. I think this proce- - China This came two days after Kuwait suspended a deci- - 51576117 (Hawally Educational Zone) dure is important for the entire population, whether citi- - Hong Kong sion which required travelers to conduct Polymerase - 51576576 (Farwaniya Educational Zone) zens or expatriates, because the risk of transmission of the - Singapore chain reaction (PCR) tests at certified clinics before - 51577055 (Jahra Educational Zone) virus from one person to another has no limits. - Thailand coming to Kuwait from the Philippines, India, - 51577655 (Ahmadi Educational Zone) So keeping the ports open in a country like Kuwait, - South Korea Bangladesh, Egypt, Syria, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, - 51577951 (Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational Zone) where the number of resident expatriates exceeds three - Japan Georgia, and Lebanon. - 51578171 (Religious Studies Department) million versus a million citizens means that there is a high