Bahrain records first coronavirus death in Gulf

Bahraini policemen seal off a building housing foreign workers in Bahrain’s Salmabad industrial area on March 13, 2020. (AFP)

• Nearly 1,000 cases of the virus have been recorded so far across the six GCC nations
• Kuwait has taken the strictest measures in the region

MANAMA: A Bahraini woman has died from the novel coronavirus, the health ministry announced on Monday, marking the first death from the disease among Gulf Co-operation Council states.
The 65-year-old woman had pre-existing medical conditions, the ministry said on Twitter.
Nearly 1,000 cases of the virus have been recorded so far across the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Most of those infected have been people returning from Iran, where more than 700 people had died in the outbreak by Sunday.
Facing a mounting public health threat, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman have taken drastic measures to combat the pandemic.
The Gulf countries have shut down cinemas and other entertainment centers — some even closing gyms and spas.
Kuwait has taken the strictest measures in the GCC by largely locking down the country over the weekend.