KUWAIT CITY, Feb 2: Kuwaiti members of parliament on Wednesday called on the government to lessen the health restrictions of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), mainly the administration of booster jabs. Speaking during a parliament session on governmental health conditions to rein in the pandemic, they underlined that physical, rather than online, classes should continue, and that all lockdown measures have to be scrapped. Now that herd immunity has been attained by vaccinating 80 percent of the country’s population, Kuwait, just like other countries, should ease out virus-bearing restrictions, they requested, calling for not compelling the unvaccinated to get shot.

They, further, urged the government to soften health measures on children and to provide virus testing centers in all governorates. The National Assembly on Wednesday discussed the measures taken by the government to deal with coronavirus. Earlier, Minister of Health Dr Khalid Al-Saeed and his team presented a report on developments regarding the virus and measures taken in this regard. The minister stressed the importance of adopting a flexible strategy in handling the crisis and the need to get vaccinated, which contributed to reducing deaths and the negative consequences of Covid-19.

He showed the recent spike in cases which, he considers unprecedented, emphasizing that the problem has yet to end. He said the number of beds in the wards for those suffering from internal diseases increased by 250 percent, 170 percent in the emergency units, 360 percent for ventilators and 260 percent in intensive care units (ICUs). He added the ministry increased the medical teams to 1,000 doctors including 100 ICU specialists, 250 technicians and 2,000 nurses. He said law number 8/1969 on pandemics and public health was amended by the previous Assembly, authorizing the minister of health to issue exceptional decisions such as requiring individuals to get vaccinated.

He affirmed all regulations related to Covid-19 will be reviewed carefully to prevent damages to the elderly and individuals with weak immune system. He also confirmed cooperating with the Ministry of Education to take the appropriate decision on the return of face-to-face classes and paper exams, stressing that he cannot risk the future of students. He went on to say that the ministry cancelled the decision to ban washing the corpses of those who died of Coronavirus. He said there is no specific regulations on dealing with the epidemic, asserting the regulations are modified in line with developments regarding the crisis.

He unveiled the ministry’s plan to use the rapid antigen test soon to end the suffering of citizens due to the required PCR test and quarantine. He explained the price of PCR test was high at the beginning of the crisis, because the production at the time was low and the price decreased to KD6. He promised to refer anyone proven to have committed financial violations to the Public Prosecution. MP Khalid Al-Otaibi argued the citizens have the right to get the vaccine or refuse to so, indicating that doctors are fully aware any vaccine requires long period to prove it is safe and effective. He said the country keeps on adopting tough measures; up to the extent of using the crisis for political purposes, even if Covid-19 is a weak virus.

MP Muhammad Al-Hewaila praised the tremendous efforts exerted by the medical teams. He also asked about the lack of PCR test centers. MP Ahmed Al-Hamad called for respecting the citizens’ opinion about taking the vaccine, warning against imposing lockdown due to the economic repercussions.

MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri said it seems Kuwait is different from other countries that have scientists like Sweden, Germany and others. He added other countries are easing restrictions on their citizens, while the Kuwaiti government intends to force even the children to get vaccinated.

MP Muhammad Al-Mutair pointed out that former Minister of Health Dr Basel Al-Sabah tried his best to handle the crisis, but it is being used for political purposes. He said the request to allocate a room for MPs infected with Covid-19 to attend the sessions was rejected although some schools were allocated for infected citizens to vote in the 2020 parliamentary elections.

MP Badr Al-Mullah stated that Al-Saeed did not mention the negative consequences of the vaccine, stressing it is unacceptable to prevent individuals who have not taken the vaccine from traveling or entering public facilities.By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff and Agencies