KUWAIT CITY, Jan 5: With the implementation of the latest decision of the Cabinet on requiring all arriving passengers to undergo PCR test 72 hours before arrival and present a certificate showing that they are not infected with coronavirus, Kuwait International Airport has started enforcing stricter preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus, in addition to checking the PCR test certificates of arriving passengers, reports Al-Qabas quoting sources.

Sources disclosed the number of flights on Tuesday totaled 230 — 117 arrivals and 113 departures, while the airport and airlines expect the number of flights to increase significantly in the coming days due to the increase in Omicron cases in many countries including Kuwait. An airport official pointed out that the Cabinet’s decision to extend the required validity of the PCR test result from 48 hours to 72 hours is aimed at easing procedures for passengers from far destinations, as well as for transit arrivals, because the previous decision hindered the arrival of many due to the short validity period of the PCR test result.

Requirement
He said some travelers from remote destinations complained about their inability to fulfill the requirement to present a PCR test certificate whose validity does not exceed 48 hours from the date of taking the sample due to the distance and the long period in issuing certificates from external laboratories in America, Canada and Australia as well as the transit stations before entering Kuwait. Movement at the airport remains normal and smooth as there have been no obstacles to the implementation of the decision of the Cabinet, while there have been several advisories on the need to present proof of vaccination upon arrival by logging on the ‘Immune’ and ‘My Identity’ applications. The airport received flights from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, London and Turkey; and there have been no changes in flight schedules or cancellations so far