Kuwait on Friday announced that it had suspended all flight services (to and fro) with seven countries, including India, due to the continuing novel coronavirus situation.
The other countries on the list are Egypt, Philippines, Syria, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The suspension of services is for a period of one week.
The Kuwait government's move hit travellers in India. Onmanorama reported that passengers who arrived at the Calicut International Airport were sent back.
The Arab Times, an English daily in Kuwait, reported that all expatriates who were present in these seven countries for more than two weeks would be prohibited to enter. For Kuwait nationals arriving from these countries, a 14-day quarantine procedure would be implemented.
The decision came after two meetings of Kuwait government officials on Friday. The Arab Times added the suspension of flight services was aimed at providing "necessary equipment to conduct the necessary tests on arrivals coming to Kuwait..." to contain spread of coronavirus.
Earlier this week, Kuwait had announced that travellers from India needed to undergo a compulsory medical test for coronavirus and obtain a certificate from an approved health centre to enter Kuwait. The new rule was to come into effect from March 8.
Till Thursday, a total of 58 cases of novel coronavirus infections were reported in Kuwait.
