KUWAIT: Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday warned its nationals against travelling to China due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) there. "Given the spread of the 2019-nCoV and out of care for the safety of Kuwaiti citizens, we advise them to cancel their plans for travel to China and urge the Kuwaitis who are still there to come back as early as possible," the Ministry said a statement this evening. It also cautioned against unnecessary travel to other countries where coronavirus cases were confirmed.

In the meantime, Kuwait's Ministry of Health on Thursday refuted reports circulated on social media regarding alleged detection of the novel coronavirus in the country. No infection case with 2019-nCoV has been detected in the State of Kuwait so far, the ministry affirmed in a press release.

The statement urged the public to rely on official sources such as the Ministry of Health for news pertaining to public health. It cautioned against promulgation of unauthenticated news or rumors, warning that any cases of 'tampering with the confidence' in the Ministry's efforts would be met with a legal action. - KUNA