Kuwait and Qatar both said they would start jailing people or fining them thousands of dollars for failing to wear a face mask to combat the novel coronavirus, Reuters reported.

Kuwait's health ministry said anyone caught could face up to three months in prison, while Qatar state TV reported the maximum penalty would be three years.

In Kuwait the maximum fine stood at $16,200 and in Qatar $55,000.

The six Gulf states have reported a total of more than 137,400 infections with 693 deaths from the virus.