KUWAIT, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Airways, the country's flag carrier, suspended all flights to Iran as of Thursday sine die after five infection cases with, and two deaths from, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed there.
"The suspension, based on advice of the (Kuwaiti) Ministry of Health and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), aims to prevent possible spread of the illness to passengers," the airline said in a statement this evening.
The Ministry of Health has cautioned against travel to Iranian city of Qom, some 140 km to the south of Tehran where two deaths were confirmed.
"Out of keenness on the safety of the citizens of, and the residents in, Kuwait, we will quarantine all arrivals from Qom until we verify that they are clear of the virus," it said in a statement.
Earlier today, the Iranian health authorities confirmed three new infection cases of the COVID-19 in Qom and Arak cities, which took to five the total number of cases in the country.
One of those infected succumbed to the illness in Qom yesterday and other one died. (end) msa.gb