KUWAIT CITY, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait reported eight new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 80, the Ministry of Health said Thursday.

At a daily press briefing, the ministry's spokesman Abdullah Al-Sanad said five of the new cases were Egyptian nationals who tested positive after being in close contact with a person from Azerbaijan.

The three others were Kuwaiti citizens who travelled back from Iran, he added.

Among the newly confirmed cases are four at the intensive care unity, one in critical condition and the rest in stable condition.

Kuwait decided on Wednesday to suspend all commercial flights starting Friday to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Li Minggang, Chinese ambassador to Kuwait, said on Tuesday that Kuwati health officials had expressed willingness to send medical teams to learn from China's experience in fighting the epidemic after it ends.

(Photo: VCG)