Kuwait will enact a “total curfew” from 4pm (13:00 GMT) tomorrow through to May 30 to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus, its cabinet said in a statement, Reuters reported.

During the curfew, public sectors will work remotely and private sector activities, excluding vital ones, will be suspended, the statement said. All banks will be closed, but will continue to provide services electronically.

Essential sectors like health, security, electricity, oil and municipal services, as well as private sector companies providing vital services like maintenance will be exempt from the curfew, interior minister Anas al-Saleh said in a televised news conference later on Friday.