No new cases in 24 hours

KUWAIT CITY, March 3, (Agencies): All passengers from the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Syria, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Georgia and Lebanon are obliged to complete a medical examination (PCR-certificate) confirming they are free from coronavirus (COVID-19) before gaining access to the territory of Kuwait, according to directives issued by the Health Ministry concerning the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Circular No. 25 issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 3, 2020 stipulates the completion of medical examination (PCRcertificate) confirming that passengers are without coronavirus, adding the PCR-certificate must be issued by accredited health centers in the respective countries and approved by the embassy of the State of Kuwait.

In the absence of a Kuwaiti embassy in the countries mentioned above, the PCR certificate should be attested by the country’s Certified Health Authority.

The circular will be enforced as of March 8, 2020 until further notice, and passengers without the PCR-certificate will be denied entry to the country, indicating such passengers will be deported on the same carrier airline without the State of Kuwait incurring any financial costs, and the airline company fined for violating the circular. It added that citizens of Kuwait are exempted from the abovementioned circular.

However, procedures in force at Kuwait International Airport by the Health Authority apply to them. The Ministry of Health said that no new coronavirus cases were recorded in Kuwait in the last 24 hours.

The medical teams are continuously monitoring conditions of infected patients at the hospital, the ministry’s assistant undersecretary for public health Dr Butheina Al-Mudhaf told the daily briefing Tuesday. On his part, the ministry’s spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said that China and the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted, in February, vital and detailed studies on the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19 for better understanding the virus.

Such studies aid countries with information on the best means of preventing the spread of the virus, said Al-Sanad, adding that Kuwait is constant contact with WHO on the matter.

The Kuwaiti Cabinet on Monday expressed thanks and appreciation for the citizens and civil institutions for providing assistance and putting all their capabilities at the disposal of the government in its procedures to combat the novel coronavirus.

In its weekly statement, the Cabinet praised the precautionary measures taken to combat the virus and limit its spread in the country, expressing appreciation to all government bodies for the tireless efforts at all levels in order to secure the safety of citizens and residents and maintain their health.

During the meeting, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Sabah affirmed that the government will spare no effort in confronting the spread of the virus.

His Highness the Prime Minister said that the Cabinet is constantly following the developments of coronavirus and that it will spare no effort in taking all measures to confront the spread of the virus. The Cabinet members were briefed in this regard to an explanation provided by the relevant ministers on the efforts made by government agencies to contain the damage resulting from the spread of the virus worldwide.

The Salwa Health Center has registered the first case of a non-Kuwaiti woman born in 1977. She is suspected of coronavirus infection, reports Al-Rai daily. The woman was ‘quarantined’ in the center’s isolation room under guard and was taken to the Jaber Hospital by ambulance.

The Kuwait Olympic Committee has postponed Gulf Olympic Games, which were scheduled to take place between April 3-14, to next December due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The decision aims at ensuring the public interest and the safety of athletes, executives and technicians, the committee said in a press statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar were supposed to take part in the delayed Gulf event. The novel coronavirus first emerged in the Chinese metropolis Wuhan late last year and is quickly spreading around the world. An Egyptian employee working for the Ministry of Public Works caused terror among his colleagues, especially since he recently arrived after holidaying in Egypt, reports Al-Rai daily.

The man was reportedly coughing and sneezing repeatedly and his colleagues at work suspected he was infected with the coronavirus and they contacted the Ministry of Health and the ministry advised the employee to be rushed to the Jaber Hospital for a medical check.

According to reliable sources the Jaber Hospital administration advised the ‘patient’ to go to the Farwaniya Hospital for tests. The sources also said the state of panic prompted some employees to leave the building. While it is not yet clear whether the sick person was infected with the virus or his condition is related to another disease, the sources denied reports that the ministry was evacuated.