Kuwait will extend the suspension of work in the public sector including at government ministries until May 31 and expand a nationwide curfew to 16 hours to combat the coronavirus, a government spokesman has said.

The 4pm to 8am curfew will go into effect at the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which could fall on Thursday or later this week depending on the sighting of the new crescent moon, the spokesman said on Monday.

Elsewhere in the Gulf region, Qatar said it would on Wednesday start to gradually lift a lockdown imposed since March 17 on a large section of the industrial zone. Many low-income migrant workers live and work there, and the area had emerged as a hot spot for the virus. Nearly 6,500 workers were moved into quarantine between April 14-17 as a precautionary step ahead of the opening of the area although they show no clear symptoms of the disease, the government said.

The region has seen an increasing number of infections among foreign workers living in overcrowded accommodation. The number of cases in the six Gulf Arab states has risen steadily to surpass 28,000, with more than 170 deaths, Reuters reported. Containment measures include halting passenger flights, imposing curfews and closing most public venues.

Source: RT