A third meeting on COVID-19 infections affecting the country was held in the office of National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Tuesday, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh and 19 MPs in attendance.
In a press conference following the meeting, the Speaker highlighted the cooperation between the executive and the legislative branches in the face of the COVID-19 infection. He said, “All Kuwaitis must act as one and be in the same trench in the fight against the Covid-19.” Pointing out that the meeting was fruitful, the Speaker added that Minister Al- Saleh listened to the comments, questions and suggestions of the lawmakers and promised to forward them to the Council of Ministers Council.
The interior minister was quoted as saying that imposing partial curfew depends on the compliance of citizens and expatriates with regulations laid down by health authorities. He revealed that the ministry was facing problems posed by citizens insisting on holding wedding parties and social gatherings in diwaniyas, in defiance of the ban on such events as a precaution against the spread of the virus.
On the question of evacuating citizens stranded in other countries, Al-Saleh told the meeting that any plan to evacuate citizens from various countries must be preceded by completion of the first stage of addressing the crisis, which is to curb the spread of the virus in the country. The minister pointed out that health authorities have recommended that carrying out the two processes simultaneously would be dangerous. He affirmed that a plan has been drawn up to guarantee a safe and organized evacuation process, concurrently with readiness of the required quarantine centers.
On a related note, MP Sa’adoun Hammad revealed that in view of the contagion affecting the country and the economic hardships it has evoked on people, the government has given initial approval to suspending the collection of loan payments for six months.
On the same vein, MP Muhammad Al-Dallal urged the Ministry of Social Affairs to allow charities to provide assistance for expatriates and Bedouns in the form of foodstuff and medical equipment, especially those whose income has been affected by the virus crisis.