Coronavirus update: GCC cases cross 260 as virus spreads

The new strain of the coronavirus infection, that reportedly originated in a live market in China late last year, has since spread to more than 100 countries, infecting over 113,000 lives.

Regionally, there have been more than 260 cases reported of the infection, that has globally claimed over 3,900 lives.

UAE
The UAE announced 14 new cases of Covid-19, the Ministry of Health and Prevention confirmed on Monday, bringing the total number of reported cases to 59.

The health ministry said the cases include four Emiratis, three Italians, two Bangladeshis, two Nepalese, one Russian, one Indian and one Syrian national.

Read more: UAE reports 14 new coronavirus cases

The ministry also announced that five additional patients had recovered including two Emiratis, two Ethiopians and one Thai national.

That brings to 12 the total number of Covid-19 patients who have recovered in the country.

Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Health reported five new cases of the coronavirus Covid-19.

Of those infected, three were citizens – one male and two females – who had been quarantined upon their return from Iran and Iraq as tests confirmed that they tested positive, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry confirmed that the fourth case was of a citizen with mild respiratory symptoms, who had come in to a hospital in the eastern region, and had been quarantined. Those in contact with him had also been identified and necessary preventive measures taken.

The fifth case was of an Egyptian man who arrived from Egypt, manifesting mild respiratory symptoms as well, and had been quarantined in a hospital in the Makkah region.

The total number of confirmed cases in the kingdom tallies 20.

On Monday, the government suspended all travel to and from nine countries including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Italy, South Korea and Syria amid mounting virus concerns.

Read more: Saudi Arabia bans travel to UAE, eight other countries

As a precautionary measure, Saudi also decided to close all schools and universities – applicable to both private and public institutions – across the kingdom indefinitely from Monday, March 9, until further notice.

Read: Saudi Arabia to close schools indefinitely from Monday

Kuwait
Kuwait’s health ministry confirmed the second coronavirus recovery on Monday, Kuwait News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, it announced that four new infections were registered in the last 24 hours, increasing the number of cases in the country to 69.

Four infectees were placed in an intensive care unit; three were “stable” while one patient remains “critical.”

Bahrain
The Ministry of Health announced on Monday that eight additional individuals – six Bahraini females and two Bahraini males – had recovered from the coronavirus infection, bringing the total number of recoveries in the kingdom to 22, Bahrain News Agency reported.

Overall, 87 active coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Bahrain.

Oman
Oman has reported a total of 18 infections, the latest of which were two travel-related cases to Iran, the sultanate’s Ministry of Health tweeted.

#Statement No 12
9 March 2020 #VirusCorona pic.twitter.com/nispEntpAF

— وزارة الصحة – عُمان (@OmaniMOH) March 9, 2020

Oman Air announced on Monday that it would suspend its flights to Milan.

Qatar
The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) announced that three new positive cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed in Qatar, bringing the total number of those infected to 18.

In an attempt to try and contain the spread of the contagion and to protect the residents, the government has suspended studies in public and private schools and universities for all students in the country starting Tuesday, until further notice.

Government Communications Office statement on the suspension of public and private schools and universities for all students until further notice as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).https://t.co/SfqpSkBDAQ

— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) March 9, 2020