Nepalis urged to adopt alertness as coronavirus spreads in Gulf

KATHMANDU: Infection of coronavirus is increasing at an alarming rate in Gulf countries that have a dense population of Nepali migrant workers.

With the spread of coronavirus, Nepali embassies there have urged Nepalis to maintain alertness and contact local health agencies in case of any difficulties.

Qatar, where some 500,000 Nepalis are employed as foreign workers, on Saturday confirmed the first case of coronavirus.

The total number of people infected with the disease in Kuwait is 45, while no one has died, the health ministry said on Friday.

Oman’s health ministry said on Saturday a woman who had been diagnosed with the disease has recovered. The sultanate said on Thursday the total number of people infected was six.

The country most affected by the outbreak in the region is Iran, with more than 200 deaths and several hundred confirmed infections, according to authorities.

The majority of infections in other Gulf countries were diagnosed in people who had visited Iran or who came into contact with people who had been there.

Saudi Arabia is the only Gulf country that has not reported any coronavirus cases.