Kuwait cancels Friday prayers at mosques amid coronavirus fears

By Zehra Nur Duz and Ali Abo Rezeg

ANKARA (AA) - Kuwait on Friday announced cancelling Friday prayers at all mosques until further notice amid coronavirus fears.

Some eight more cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Kuwait on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 80, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

Earlier this week, the Kuwaiti government announced a series of measures to curb the outbreak. These included closing down academic institutions for two more weeks, and suspending all sports activities until further notice.

The Gulf nation has also stopped issuing visas to countries affected by the virus, which emerged in China last December and has since spread to 118 countries or territories.

The global death toll stands at nearly 5,000, with over 132,500 confirmed cases.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a pandemic.