Restaurants and cafes across Kuwait have been given the go-ahead to welcome customers for dine-ins as of Sunday, the cabinet decided amid its weekly meeting chaired By His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, provided the hospitality venues comply with guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.
It also exempted certain arrivals in Kuwait from compulsory quarantine, including those vaccinated using shots approved in Kuwait, in addition to people who had recovered from COVID-19 within 90 days, both of whom still need to submit a negative PCR test conducted 72 hours after the arrival.
The cabinet also decided to offer exemptions from a travel ban imposed on non-vaccinated citizens, in effect as of Saturday, saying those who cannot get the jab for health reasons will be allowed to travel only with health ministry consent, while non-inoculated pregnant women with valid maternity certificates can also journey abroad.
The list of countries deemed as high-risk due to the spread of the coronavirus will be updated on a weekly basis, the cabinet has decided, ordering the government’s official communication center to handle the task.
The cabinet also allowed only outbound flights to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while cargo planes to these destinations remain unaffected until further notice. Health Minister Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah allayed the cabinet’s concerns over the spread of the pandemic in Kuwait, saying the health situation in the country has “largely stabilized,” which allowed for the loosening of some restrictions on public life. He warned against pandemic complacency even as the national vaccination campaign continues to pick up speed and the number of critical COVID-19 patients drops, urging nationals and expatriates alike to be mindful of health precautions.
Source-KUNA