KUWAIT, March 12 : The Ministry of Information will not be lenient toward any news source that publicizes rumors or triggers panic among citizens and residents of the country, the Minister of Information affirmed on Thursday.

Mohammad Al-Jabri, who doubles as Minister of State for Youth Affairs, emphasized that information must be sought from reliable sources. He was speaking after a meeting of the contingency committee for following up on the novel coronavirus -- held at the ministry headquarters.

The cabinet chaired by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the supreme ministerial commission, headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh, have been meeting on continuous basis, taking decisions and broadcasting news designed to enhance the "public health and preventive awareness," Al-Jabri said.

He assured the people about food security, noting that the state has already taken a series of measures and precautionary steps, including moves ahead of other nations with respect of containing the virus.
The minister urged the media to shed light on status of markets to re-assure the people that conditions in the country remained normal.
Al-Jabri urged the media and electronic websites to broadcast credible news and expressed gratitude to communication companies for broadcasting messages for educating the public about the virus in 16 languages. (KUNA)