Coronavirus in the Gulf: everything you need to know about Covid-19 in the GCC – The National

Coronavirus in the Gulf: everything you need to know about Covid-19 in the GCC – The National

Since Covid-19 was first recorded in a Chinese province, the disease has spread to every GCC state.. Countries in the Gulf have taken unprecedented moves - Saudi Arabia has suspended Umrah pilgrimages, stopped prayers at mosques, shut all but essential jobs and closed off the eastern province of Qatif.. Since Covid-19 was detected in the Chinese province of Hubei in January, it has spread to more than 100 countries, infecting around 200,000 people and killing more than 8,000.. It has spread to every Gulf state, but the World Health Organisation has praised the actions of countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE for the measures they have implemented to respond to the crisis.. The kingdom has closed the holy shrines in Makkah in order to prevent large gatherings where the virus could be spread.. UAE residents who are abroad will not be allowed to re-enter the country for two weeks from March 19, the government said .. The latest measure to control the spread of the coronavirus comes after the UAE banned Emiratis from travel and implemented a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for all travellers returning to the country.. On March 13, Kuwait stopped all travel except cargo flights from