UAE, Kuwait bar travellers from BD, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates will from Wednesday suspend the entry of all travellers, including transit passengers, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka amid the COVID pandemic.The UAE, which is made up of seven emirates, has already suspended flights from India, as coronavirus cases in the country spiked to global records. The surge has spilled into Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Pakistan is also struggling to contain a third wave of infections.

Flights from and through the UAE and heading to the four countries will be exempt, the General Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement.

The GCAA said that those coming from the four nations through other countries must stay in those third countries for at least 14 days. UAE nationals and passengers in private jets are exempt provided they quarantine for 10 days and undergo PCR tests upon arrival and on the fourth and eighth days after entering the country. Cargo flights will continue to operate between the UAE and the four countries.

Meanwhile, Kuwait banned flights and barred entry to travellers from four countries — Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — until further notice, state news agency KUNA said, as the emirate tries to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision by the Gulf state's cabinet did not include cargo flights. To enter Kuwait from the four countries, people must have been in another country for at least 14 days beforehand, the statement said.