Qatar began enforcing the world's toughest penalties of up to three years' imprisonment for failing to wear masks in public, as it battles one of the world's highest coronavirus infection rates, AFP reports.

More than 30,000 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the tiny Gulf country — 1.1 per cent of the 2.75 million population.

Violators of Qatar's new rules will face up to three years in jail and fines of as much as $55,000.