KUWAIT, March 11 (KUNA) -- Ministries of Interior and Information filed law suits against people who spreaded rumors related to coronavirus, which caused panic among citizens and expatriates, a senior government official affirmed Wednesday.
"We will not tolerate those who spread rumors and they will be held accountable," Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh told a news conference following an extraordinary meeting of the government.
Ministry of Interior had announced last week "it will track all those who spread rumors and indeed the ministries of interior and information filed law suits against persons behind rumors," he said.
"Rumor is undermining health security and causes panic among public," said Al-Saleh.
He said suspension of work in government and private sectors was at the request of Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO).
"This decision aims at minimizing gatherings of people for two weeks, the time of incubation of the virus," said Al-Saleh.
Al-Saleh regretted the fact that some people were not abiding by home quarantine rules, and they would be penalized.
Al-Saleh, meanwhile, played down fears about food shortage and emphasized food quantity was enough.
He said the government's decisions were temporary. "We are passing through exceptional circumstances," he said. (end) jy.bs