Kuwait's religiousauthorities asked Muslims to pray at home on Friday as Gulf Arab states steppedup measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.
Kuwait has reported 80confirmed cases of the virus.
Dozens more cases ofcoronavirus have been registered in the Gulf Arab states over the past24 hours. Saudi Arabia reported 17 additional cases taking its total to 62.
More than 700infections have been reported to Friday in the six-nation Arab CooperationCouncil. No deaths have been announced so far. Authorities say most ofthose infected had traveled to Iran, the regional epicenter of the outbreak, orbeen in contact with returnees.
In the UAE capital AbuDhabi, Etihad Airways announced the suspension of flights to and from Romeand Milan on Friday, from March 14. The death toll in Italy passed1,000, in Europe's deadliest outbreak.
