Kuwait receives medical supplies from India amid coronavirus outbreak

DUBAI: Kuwait received an Indian Air Force plane carrying medical supplies to help the state curb the coronavirus spread, state news agency KUNA reported on Saturday.

The Kuwaiti army said in a statement that the aid was sent as part of a coordination between the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence and its counterparts externally, and with the health ministry internally

The total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 1,154 with 133 recoveries and one death.

Since the spread of coronavirus in the country early last month, Kuwait suspended all flights on March 11. However, Kuwait airline said on Saturday that it could operate outbound flights for expats wishing to return back to their home countries, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.

The flights will head to several destinations in accordance with the cabinet decision issued on April 9, the directorate said.

Meanwhile, Kuwait will establish 12 quarantine areas for its citizens arriving from abroad. The State Audit Bureau was in contact with officials from different local and international-brand hotels to negotiate using their facilities for isolation, the Under Secretary and head of the bureau’s emergency team Suleiman Al-Busairi said.

The contracts for the isolation sites varied in daily expenses and services at a range of $144 to $12,000, he added.