Suspension of flights with South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia and Malawi
– An institutional quarantine for citizens coming from 9 African countries and obligating non-Kuwaitis to stay outside 14 days before arriving
– Avoiding travel at the present time except in cases of necessity, especially countries that Cases of the new strain appeared
The Council of Ministers called on citizens to avoid travel at the present time, except in cases of necessity, especially countries in which cases of the new strain appeared.
And the Government Communication Center announced that the Council of Ministers decided to stop commercial flights with 9 countries: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia, and Malawi.
The Council decided to apply institutional quarantine to citizens coming from those countries for a period of 7 days with a PCR examination on arrival and on the sixth day of arrival, in addition to preventing entry to Kuwait for non-Kuwaitis coming from those countries, whether directly or through other countries unless they reside outside those countries for at least 14 days.
After the meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Corona Emergencies, Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense reassured that “the airport will not be closed, and the borders will nremain open.”
He said, “The virus is dangerous, and there are steps that everyone must take, whether those inside Kuwait or those who will return to the country,” stressing that “the health situation is above excellent, thanks to God and the efforts of our heroes in the Ministry of Health.”
For his part, Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basil Al-Sabah affirmed that “the measures taken by the Ministry of Health since the beginning of the pandemic are still in place, which is the obligation to wear a mask, social distancing, and keenness to take the vaccine,” noting that “these measures are proven to reduce infections.
For its part, the General Administration of Civil Aviation stressed the need to adhere to the preventive procedures and requirements for all passengers arriving and transferred to Kuwait, and the need to submit a negative PCR examination certificate and adhere to the procedures of the immune and non-vaccinated before arrival.
Two main goals
Health sources confirmed to Al-Rai that the Ministry of Health is currently seeking two goals in its measures:
1- Reducing the import of the new “Omicron” mutant to the country.
2 – Reducing the effects of the spread of the mutant on Kuwait.
3 steps to control … Currently
Informed sources confirmed to Al-Rai that in light of the need for more time to know the answers to the various questions related to the new mutant, in terms of its strength, speed of spread, and the impact of previous immunity, whether through infection or vaccination, the most important steps to control in the current time is represented by:
1 – Encouraging the demand to receive the third booster dose of the vaccine.
2 – Continuing the serious and firm application of health requirements.
3- Intensifying research and investigation efforts for new strains through genetic planning.