Aviation outlines procedure for flights
FBI launches probe over masks
KUWAIT CITY, April 14, (Agencies): The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Civil Aviation has issued a circular on operational procedures to evacuate Arab and foreign residents from Kuwait airport. The measure has been taken due to the outbreak of Corona epidemic.
The circular specifies ways of dealing with the travel destinations of countries that did not request medical examination for their nationals, and the others that requested a medical examination before their evacuation.
However, the circular does not specify who are eligible for leaving Kuwait or if it is optional.
Operational procedures for the evacuation of residents of Arab and foreign countries from Kuwait International Airport due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Below is the circular issued by DGCA
First:
Evacuation to the countries which have not required medical test for their citizens.
Passengers evacuation shall be regulated in accordance with approved procedures implanted at the specified terminals delegated for this purpose in coordination with national & foreign Air operators and ground handling Agents and in accordance with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Kuwait DGCA procedures and circulars to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Second:
Evacuation to those countries who require medical test for their citizens (after the approval of working team) to implement the appropriate mechanism, headed by the Minister of Social Affairs.
1. DGCA shall implement an evacuation plan to facilitate for those residence in coordination with the national and foreign Air operators.
2. DGCA Air transport department and Kuwait International Airport (KIA) operation department shall specify all evacuation departures through remote aircraft stands at the airport ramp.
3. Medical Test Centre (B) at terminal (1) is the approved centre to carry out medical (COVID-19) test for all passengers whom to be evacuated and all flights to those countries which require medical test at terminal (1), medical test centre (B) and at location (ALFA) for all Air operators and Ground Handling Agents.
4. DGCA/KIA operation department shall coordinate with operators and ground handling Agencies to specify passenger’s check-in zone in accordance with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Kuwait DGCA procedures and circulars to prevent the spread of (COVID-19) pandemic.
5. All Air operators and ground handling agents shall close passenger’s check-in desk 90-minute prior departure time due to latest medical test procedures required from those countries. It’s the Air operator responsibility to inform their passengers.
6. Air Operators and Ground handling agents shall be responsible of all medical procedures precautionary for all passengers including the providing of (medical masks, gloves and sanitizers).
7. Passport Control and Airport security shall be implemented by MOI taking into consideration all precautionary measures.
8. Ground handling Agents shall facilitate the entrance and exit of all passengers from medical test Centre (B) and Zone (ALFA) from terminal (1) for passengers’ medical test and departure procedures where sanitization procedure shall be implemented as per approved procedures from Ministry of Health (MOH).
9. The test and medical staff conducting it for the passengers shall be provided by the ground handling companies under the supervision of the Ministry of Health (MOH) after which the result of the examination is approved by the MOH in preparation for the issuance of the health certificate for the novel coronavirus.
10. If (COVID-19) test result is negative, a certificate shall be issued for each passenger and is approved by MOH.
11. If (COVID-19) test result is positive the passenger shall be isolated and the approved procedures by MOH in coordination with MOI shall be strictly implemented.
Kuwait counts 3rd death
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported 55 new coronavirus infections and one fatality in the last 24 hours, bringing the total of infections to 1,355 and deaths to three.
During its daily briefing, Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said that 26 patients were in intensive care nine of them are in critical condition and 17 stable.
He added that the death cases reached three after confirming the death of a Kuwaiti female (79 years) in the last 24 hours, noting that she was in the intensive care unit.
Those currently receiving treatment at hospitals reached 1,176 patients said the spokesperson, adding that 146 individuals have completed quarantine in the last 24 hours.
Earlier, the ministry announced the recovery of 26 new patients, bringing the total to 176 recoveries.
Cabinet OKs repatriation plan
The Cabinet, at an extraordinary session on Monday, adopted a phased process to bring back Kuwaiti citizens abroad who have remained there amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The ministers, during the session, followed up on efforts for combating the novel coronavirus and adopted the plan to bring back home Kuwaiti citizens from all corners of the world, said Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh in a statement after the special meeting.
The session kick-started with Minister of Health and head of a team tasked with following up on the coronavirus developments, Sheikh Dr Bassel Al-Sabah, briefing the ministers about latest information about the pandemic, including data and statistics included in reports of the World Health Organization.
The ministers were also briefed by Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser AlMohamamd Al-Sabah, who alongwith the minister of health, presented details about the planned operation.
The plan, execution of which was scheduled to begin on April 19, envisaged five phases: First would be due on April 19-20 covering Kuwaitis who completed medical treatment abroad along with their companions, also tourists or those who were on official assignments.
Second stage (April 23) covers patients who need medical beds and life support equipment. The third one (April 25-May 1) for students, the fourth (May 3-4) for diplomats and the fifth (May 6-7) for other segments.
Later in the session, Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Khaled Al-Fadhel briefed the minsters about the recent agreement by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing states to slash crude production by less than 10 million barrels per day. The ministers lauded the deal that would stabilize the markets and back the global economy in the current extraordinary circumstances.
Moreover, the Cabinet lauded designation of Mustafa Al-Kadehmi to form a new government in Iraq, hoping the move would lead to attaining the people aspirations.
PM follows work of team
Speaking at a lengthy news conference, His Highness the Prime Minister said he is following up round the clock on the hard work of specialized teams tasked with taking measures against the novel coronavirus. “There are 16 of such committees and many other teams,” he revealed.
Underscoring personal concern on part of His Highness the Amir and top leaders about conditions of the citizens, particularly those abroad amid the coronavirus crisis, he stated, “Our determination is grand to overcome the plight... and we have abundant medical and food stockpiles.”
Elaborating, the Prime Minister has said that he is in regular contact with the concerned ministers to resolve any emerging obstacles or issues. “We are all working hard to (resolve the issues),” he stressed.
The Prime Minister has affirmed that the government is addressing issues concerning 50,000 Kuwaiti citizens in various countries across the world. “This subject is a priority for us, and we have been engaged in lengthy discussions to try reach the best solutions while preserving the health system in the country,” he stated.
He declared that following these lengthy discussions among the concerned officials, the government has adopted the plan for repatriating the citizens abroad — execution of which will begin on April 19.
For his part, Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Bassel Al-Sabah who spoke after the premier said the repatriated Kuwaitis would be divided into three groups, affirming that the phased process would begin on April 19 and conclude on the 7th of the month after — lasting for 19 days.
He affirmed that the returning citizens would be subject to standard medical procedures against pandemics, such as measuring their temperature and conducting swab tests, before being subjected to either institutionalize or house quarantines.
The first batch of the repatriates will include those who need mobile beds and life support equipment, he added, re-appealing to families of the returnees to adhere literally to the authorities’ instructions and abstain from emotional interaction with their loved ones upon their return.
Taking his turn at the news conference, Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah declared that the operation would be the largest evacuation of Kuwaitis from abroad since 1991 after Kuwait was liberated of the Iraqi occupation.
So far, 35,000 Kuwaitis abroad desiring to return have registered required data on “Ma’akom” website,” the foreign minister said.
He explained that in the first phase of the operation (April 19-April 21), Kuwaitis would be flown back from GCC countries, Egypt and Turkey.
Flights take off
Two special flight took off Monday from the Kuwait International Airport one carrying about 107 Iranians and the other carrying about 121 Ukrainians and Romanians, reports Al-Qabas daily.
A well-informed source said all precautionary measures were taken while the expatriates left the country.
They were provided sterilizers and ensured that proper distance between was maintained between passengers as their luggage and passports were being checked.
FBI probes deal
In the midst of countries increasingly buying protective gear against the emerging infection of coronavirus, sources revealed that persons or perhaps an entity in Kuwait has become the subject of investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for trying to delude a US businessman that they can supply him 39 million N95 masks, reports Al-Rai daily quoting sources in the US media.
According to the sources, the FBI investigators and Pennsylvania State Prosecutors had discovered this fraud attempt as they sought to determine whether that shipment of the mask was to be confiscated upon arrival in the United States.
Federal investigators have discovered that this deal is fictitious and that there were no such masks at all, and that two people were involved in the scam — one of them a Kuwaiti impersonating a medical supplies resource, while the other is in Australia and has presented himself as a commercial broker to facilitate the completion of the alleged deal that was supposed to be worth more than $136 million.
The fraudsters allegedly used the “WhatsApp” messaging app to communicate with an American businessman from Pittsburgh, where they convinced him that they could supply the masks and tried to lure him to
first transfer the price of the deal to a bank account in a fourth country.
Of course, the deal fell flat but FBI investigators will continue to seek to establish the identities of the people who were behind the — whether in Kuwait or in Australia — in preparation to prosecute them in coordination with the authorities in the two countries.
Violators referred to court
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior referred to courts 40 violators of the nationwide partial curfew which was imposed on March 22.
In a press statement Tuesday, the ministry said some of the violators were released on bail of up to KD 1,000.
The statement noted that among the violators were people who held gatherings and marriage celebrations.
Great tradition
US Ambassador to Kuwait Alina Romanowski has said that Kuwaiti students in the US, estimated at 12,000, are part of a great tradition of scholarship and educational cooperation between the two friendly countries.
“To those students, I send them my greetings and best wishes, and would like them to know that we are thinking of them during these challenging times,” she said, referring to the global combat against the novel coronavirus.
“These students are part of a great tradition of scholarship and educational cooperation between our two countries,” Ambassador Romanowski said in an interview with KUNA on Tuesday.
“Universities in the United States are mostly operating through virtual learning programs right now, so some of these students may return to Kuwait to finish out the school year from here.
“Regardless of where they decide to weather this storm, I want to wish them good health and success,” she explained.
Asked on the evacuation of US nationals in Kuwait who might opt to go home, she said, “There are thousands of US citizens in Kuwait. As of today, less than two hundred have left. Other US citizens may decide to depart Kuwait as additional flights become available, but I expect many will stay here while they wait for the situation to stabilize.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the Kuwaiti authorities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Kuwait Airways in working with the (US) Embassy on flights to repatriate American citizens who wanted to go home,” Ambassador Romanowski pointed out.
On her mission in Kuwait, she said, “Since I arrived in Kuwait as the US Ambassador at the end of January, I have been impressed with how warm and welcoming the Kuwaiti people have been.
“Kuwait has a rich culture and history, and the future of our two countries will continue to be intertwined. The current COVID-19 crisis has made it hard for me to continue to meet people and really get to know the country.
“I’m looking forward to the time when things will open up and I will be able to get out and really get to know Kuwait.
“The people of the United States and Kuwait have a long and enduring friendship, and I look forward to strengthening those bonds even further,” she stated.
“It was an honor to present my credentials to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Feb 11. I was pleased to congratulate him on Kuwaiti National Day and the 14th anniversary of his ascendancy.
“I reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to our shared security interests and to strengthening our bilateral relationship under our Strategic Dialogue. I also thanked him for Kuwait’s leadership in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where Kuwait has played an especially important role as a mediator in the ongoing rift.
“His Highness the Amir’s leadership on regional concerns and his commitment to humanitarian issues are well known.
“He is a great friend of the United States and an important ally. I look forward to working with him and his government on issues touching both our countries and the region during my time as US Ambassador to Kuwait,” she affirmed.
Ambassador Romanowski commended the US-Kuwait partnership as “a unique partnership that has withstood the test of time,” saying, “Our relationship is rooted in our shared values, interests, and vision for the future.
“The US-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue has served as one of the important frameworks to expand the strategic partnership between our countries and strengthen our political, economic, cultural, and military ties.
“I look forward to continuing to strengthen cooperation across our governments in education, healthcare, transportation, cybersecurity, and many other fields,” she said.
Commenting on the joint combat against COVID-19, she said, “Both of our governments have, as our first priorities, the protection of our citizens. We have worked closely together to accomplish that goal for both countries.
“We have worked together to organize flights to help American and Kuwaiti citizens return home. Several flights have been organized so far, and we anticipate more will occur in the future,” she noted.
“The American businesses are world leaders in developing life-saving pharmaceutical products, including vaccines and the development of cutting-edge medical devices. They are focused now on the global fight against COVID-19 and are already producing breakthroughs in, for example, rapid testing.
“Our two governments will continue to coordinate on bringing these new technologies to Kuwait as quickly as possible,” the senior diplomat revealed.
On Kuwait’s response to the pandemic, she said, “The Kuwaiti government has rapidly responded to prevent the spread of COVID-19 both in Kuwait and beyond.
“I remain grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of Kuwait’s public servants and health providers who vigilantly stand ready on the front lines to protect the safety and well-being of residents in Kuwait.