Many expats in Kuwait are mired in confusion and uncertainty over the recent decision by the Kuwait’s civil aviation on advice of the health ministry to demand a health certificate from expats returning or entering Kuwait starting 8 March. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure against possible infections and spread of coronavirus from nationals arriving from countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Egypt, Syria Lebanon, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Expats out of the country are worried how the new decision will impact their return to Kuwait while many others feel they will have to postpone their travel plans over this decision. The Kuwait Government has not offered any clarity in this regard, and hasn’t announced the exact procedures and even some of approved medical centres are not aware of the annoucement itself. On another note most of these centres are not equipped to conduct the COVID-19 test and issue the PCR certificate.
The certification is necessary to provide proof that the person has not been afflicted with the Coronavirus. As part of the regulations, an expat can only receive the test from the medical Centre and hospital with approval from the Kuwait embassy of that country. Without it, one is not allowed to enter Kuwait, and will be returned to their home country.
Foreign Embassies in Kuwait are unable to provide any clarification over the issue as they haven’t received the relevant information. Many media outlets have come out with lists but it is not clear if the mentioned medical centres and hospitals have the necessary facilities that deal specifically with the coronavirus test.
Kuwait has tried to control the spread of Coronavirus with thousands quarantined and 56 cases reported so far. Schools have been shut for two weeks while a slew of measures have been enforced to in the interest of protecting the residents from the spread. People travelling to Kuwait from countries with high risk of coronavirus transmission have been barred from entering Kuwait and they include China, Iran, Iraq, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.
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