Amidst mounting parliamentary calls to show equality between expats and citizens with regard to entry of those vaccinated to the country, such an endeavor is being considered for study, particularly the lifting of the entry travel ban on vaccinated expats from some countries with valid residency under regulations, government sources revealed to Al-Rai daily.
The sources explained that the regulations will be similar to the procedures followed by citizens, and the only difference will be the necessity of the expat to have completed the vaccination procedures with one of the vaccines approved in Kuwait, either two doses of Oxford or Pfizer or Moderna, and one dose of Johnson & Johnson.
Regarding the need for a transit country, the sources indicated that those who will be allowed to enter Kuwait are the ones who have completed the vaccination procedures with the approved vaccines, and not from those in high-risk countries, and therefore, they will not be obliged to quarantine in the transit country.
The Cabinet mandates the Government Communication Center publish the list of high-risk countries, which are struggling with the coronavirus pandemic on a weekly basis, in coordination with the Ministry of Health. The list is likely to include countries in which the prevalence of the coronavirus infections are still high, in addition to the countries in which the India Covid mutant strain was detected.
Calls increased for the lifting of the indirect travel ban on resident expats as they were only allowed to leave without returning to the country, especially in light of the strict health procedures followed in the matter of travelers, and the conditions set, which includes vaccinations and the results of a negative PCR test.
Regarding the expected date for the possibility of allowing entry of non-Kuwaitis, the sources stated that there are indications pushing towards an early date, noting that “the continued improvement of the epidemiological indicators in the country in conjunction with the acceleration of the vaccination rate of members of the public are pushing for such a decision.”