Kuwait threatens to jail people who do not wear masks
Kuwait said yesterday that it would start jailing people or fining them thousands of dollars for failing to wear a face mask as a precaution against the novel coronavirus.
The Kuwaiti health ministry said anyone caught without a mask could face up to three months in prison, while Qatar state television said the maximum penalty there would be three years in prison with fines of as much as $55,000 (Dh202,000).
In Kuwait, the maximum fine was 5,000 dinars (Dh59,500) and in Qatar it was 200,000 riyals (Dh201,785).
The six Gulf states have reported more than 137,400 infections, with 693 deaths from the virus. Cases in the region were initially linked to travel but a spread among migrant workers in cramped living quarters was also reported.
Saudi Arabia, with a population of about 30 million people, has the largest count at more than 54,700 cases and 312 deaths. It recorded more than 2,000 cases for the fourth day in a row yesterday as 10 more people died.
The kingdom’s health ministry said 2,736 more people were found to be infected in the previous 24 hours.
Despite the high number of cases, recovery numbers have increased.
An additional 1,797 individuals have recovered, raising the total to 25,722, close to half the number of total infections, spokesman Dr Mohammed Al Abd Al Ali said.
Qatar, a nation of about 2.8 million, has the second highest infection count at more than 32,600, with 15 deaths. Only the micro-states of San Marino and the Vatican had higher per-capita infection rates, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Oman announced 157 more coronavirus cases, taking the number of confirmed cases to 5,186. The Oman News Agency quoted the health ministry as saying that 22 people had died from the virus, and 1,465 patients had recovered.
The sultanate also announced that Eid markets would be closed in some parts of the country this year to prevent the spread of the virus.
Kuwait reported 1,048 more coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, taking the total to 14,850, while five deaths were reported, taking the toll to 112.
The Kuwait News Agency reported that 168 patients were in intensive care, while the health ministry announced the recovery of 250 patients, taking the total to 4,093.
Research released before Arabian Travel Market’s virtual gathering next month said local tourism and domestic travel were expected to lead a GCC recovery from the pandemic as restrictions eased.
As Kuwait tightened its regulations, Qatar said non-compliance with rules could result in a $55,000 fine