Kuwait has taken strict precautionary measures from the health point of view to prevent the new Covid-19 mutant Omicron infiltrating into the country by taking strict measures in issuing tourist visas, especially to people coming from countries where the mutant is detected.
A high-ranking ministerial source told Al-Rai daily that there is currently no contemplation of imposing a ban, whether partial or total. However, Director of the Ahmadi Health District, Dr. Ahmed Al-Shatti, has stressed on the need to continue adhering to health requirements, taking preventive measures at land, air and sea ports, and saying at the same time the situation in the country is reassuring.
According to the Ministry of Interior about 1,200 tourist visas have been issued within a week, and gave the maximum daily requests as 600. A majority of these visas, the ministry source said, were for people of 53 countries who are entitled to enter the country on tourist visas and who could apply for a visa upon arrival at the Kuwait International Airport, but now have to apply online, in addition to some residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The sources revealed after the appearance of Omicron, the General Administration of Residency Affairs is studying the possibility of reviewing the issuing of tourist visas to some countries where Omicron has been detected.
Meanwhile, the sources pointed to studies to reduce the period of taking the booster dose of the vaccine from 6 to 3 months, similar to some countries in the region, provided the timing does not conflict with international recommendations and protocols in this regard.
The World Health Organization has monitored a number of indicators related to the ‘Omicron’ mutant and the mechanism of dealing with the new wave of Corona, the most important of which are:
– Panic due to uncertainty
– ‘Delta’ has become the dominant variant in Europe
– Calling on countries to intensify health monitoring
– Many tools are available to prevent the spread of ‘Omicron’
– Most infections are minor and there are no serious cases
– There is no evidence of a decline in the effectiveness of vaccines
– No need to develop a new vaccine, but simple modifications
– The new mutant has been monitored in 24 countries so far
– The need to continue wearing masks at all times