Kuwait: Government to allow citizens and residents to travel to and from the country from August 1 /update 24

Event

Kuwait will allow citizens and residents to travel to and from the country as of Saturday, August 1, amid the easing of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions. The decision, announced on Thursday, July 30, excludes residents coming from Bangladesh, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal. 

Kuwaiti authorities implemented the third phase of the country's five-stage economic reopening plan on Tuesday, July 28, following restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the COVID-19. The nightly curfew will be shortened to between 21:00 and 03:00 (local time), hotels and mosques will reopen, and taxis will be permitted to operate. The decision will be reviewed following the Eid al-Adha holiday, which ends on August 3. Additionally, the government ended the isolation of the Farwaniya Governorate on July 19, the last remaining governorate to have been isolated.

Fines are in place for not wearing a facemask in public. 

As of July 30, health authorities have confirmed 65,903 COVID-19 cases with 444 associated deaths in the country. Further spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized. "

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.