Saudi Arabia's decision to close its land border (including the border with Bahrain via the King Fahd Causeway) is to come into effect on Saturday (March 7, 2020) night. Its decision comes within a series of precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom to counter the Coronavirus.

Al-Wefaq Deputy Secretary-General, Sheikh Hussein Al-Daihi, criticized the King's decision to hold the Jafaria Endowments (Waqf) economically responsible for returning Bahraini citizens stranded in Iran after the outbreak of the coronavirus there.

Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society revealed that there are 2130 Bahrainis stranded in Iran due to the Coronavirus outbreak, adding that the regime in Bahrain is abandoning the least of its responsibilities, and has failed to return its citizens to their homeland.

The Ministry announced that student attendance at all public and private educational institutions, which includes all public and private schools, higher educational institutions, and kindergartens will be suspended for an additional two weeks, until March 29, 2020.

Energy-rich Gulf states have scrapped or postponed dozens of events as part of measures to contain the new coronavirus, denting economies already hurt by slumping oil prices.

Bahrain's central bank on Thursday urged banks and financing companies to consider re-scheduling or granting deferrals on credit installments in light of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a circular seen by Reuters.

Saudi Arabia expanded a rare freeze on pilgrimages to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina by foreigners to also include Saudi citizens and residents due to concerns about the new coronavirus, state news agency SPA reported.

Iraq canceled Friday prayers in the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala due to concerns about the coronavirus, a statement from the holy site administration said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Health announced that 4 individuals cured from Coronavirus (COVID-19) after receiving needed medical treatment under the supervision of a specialized medical team.

Haj Hasan Mansour Hassan, 62, did not know that he will never leave the Iranian territory alive after he arrived in February 19 with 5 of his family members.

Bahrain is to grant an exemption to the Ferrari team and its partners participating in Formula One race from measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi stressed that his country expressed readiness to return stranded Bahrainis in Iran to their homeland, however, the Bahraini government has done nothing in this respect.

Mid February wasn't as frightening as the situation is now, after the Iranian authorities announced the deaths of two people from Coronavirus in the Iranian city of Qom. No one knows how, when or where they were infected.

Bahrain has postponed two oil and gas conferences which were scheduled to take place this month, including a regional gathering for oil traders, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Senior Shia clerics in Bahrain called to stop all religious events in obsequies and other religious sites until the end of the coming week to prevent the outbreak of Coronavirus.

Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society called on all citizens and residents to cooperate and provide facilitations in screening Coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health has registered 3 new Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases carried by one male and two female Bahraini nationals arriving at Bahrain International Airport via indirect flights from Iran, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 41.

Bahrainis stranded in the Iranian city of Mashhad are disappointed and frustrated. 1,300 Bahrainis are stuck there, not knowing what awaits them, or how to return to Bahrain or when. "We are in good health, but our situation is no longer good. We are in a confusing situation and we don't know what to do," they told Bahrain Mirror.

The infectious disease consultant at the Military Hospital, Dr. Manaf Al-Qahtani, did well when he rejected the accusations made by loyalists against Shiite citizens claiming that they were the reason that the Coronavirus hit Bahrain.

The Civil Service Bureau confirmed that the statutes and regulations in force grant the government employee special paid leave regardless of the balance of his sick leave when the medical apparatuses of the Ministry of Health decide to subject him to quarantine or keep him at home for isolation reasons.