Kuwait: Authorities announce third phase of COVID-19 reopening to commence on July 28 /update 23

Event

Kuwaiti authorities have announced that the third phase of the country's five-stage economic reopening plan is to begin from Tuesday, July 28, following restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The nightly curfew will be shortened to between 21:00 and 03:00 (local time), hotels and mosques will reopen, and taxis will be permitted to operate. The decision will be reviewed following the Eid al-Adha holiday, which ends on August 3. Additionally, the government ended the isolation of the Farwaniya Governorate on Sunday, July 19, the last remaining governorate to have been isolated.

Kuwaiti officials also announced that residency permit-holders who were unable to renew their permits due to the COVID-19 pandemic will not be allowed to return unless they obtain a new visa. Some 40,000 residents are believed to have been affected by the decision.

As of Friday, July 24, health authorities have confirmed 62,625 COVID-19 cases with 425 associated deaths in the country. Further spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized. "

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.

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