Kuwait, February 24, 2020, SPA -- Kuwait Ports Authority announced Monday banning entry of ships from Iraq to the ports of Shuaiba, Shuwaikh and Doha until further notice, as part of efforts to stop the new coronavirus (COVID-19) from spreading. According to KUNA, General Manager of Kuwait Ports Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah said in statement that this decision is within precautionary measures taken by the authority to stop this epidemic from spreading into the country. The decision ALSO comes in line with a government contingency plan, taking all necessary measures to combat the virus, he added. Earlier, the Iraqi Ministry of Health announced registering first infection with the coronavirus; an Iranian student in the Iraqi province of Najaf. --SPA 18:31 LOCAL TIME 15:31 GMT 0034 www.spa.gov.sa/w1273017