Arifjan probe over COVID-19 spread
MoH maintains strategic stock of medicines
KUWAIT CITY, April 22, (Agencies): The US Embassy in Kuwait has confirmed that the American authorities in Camp Arifjan opened investigation into a company with an Army contract after transferring a number of its employees, who had possible contact with a person infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outside the base, in a manner which is not in line with the guidelines of the Kuwaiti government, reports AlRai daily.
In a press statement, the embassy affirmed “the policy in force in the US Embassy and military bases in Kuwait
requires compliance with the guidelines set by the Kuwaiti government. We will continue to implement this policy. The authorities in Camp Arifjan will conduct an open and transparent investigation into this matter.”
Minister condemns assault
Kuwait’s Health Minister Sheikh Dr Bassel Al-Sabah stressed that assaulting the Ministry’s employees and health cadres while carrying out their work is condemned and rejected and can never be accepted under any pretext or justification.
In a statement to KUNA, Sheikh Bassel denounced the assault on one of the ministry’s doctors while performing her humanitarian mission in a health center in the country. The minister pointed out that such assault does not pertain to humanity or human morals, stressing that the ministry will take all legal action against the aggressor, in order to prevent the recurrence of such shameful acts in the future.
MoH maintains stock
The Ministry of Health in a daily follow-up of the latest rates of coronavirus infections, mortality and recovery rates, indicated the ministry is working to implement the decisions issued by the Council of Minister the day before Wednesday regarding strengthening the strategic stock of medicines and medical equipment in light of the crisis of the implications of the virus, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting ministry sources.
The sources added the Ministry obtained the approval of the regulatory authorities a few days ago to supply medicines, medical and pharmaceutical preparations, devices and accessories, with the aim of supporting the strategic stock of medicines during the coming period, especially that the crisis is expected to continue until the end of this year.
The sources stated the cost of these drugs and medical equipment amounts to about 17 million dinars and will be supplied in coordination with the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance related to various diseases with the aim of supporting the stock of medicines for a period ranging between one and two years.
As for the date of the arrival of these drugs and the medical devices supporting the drug stock, the sources indicated that the supply process was not interrupted or affected by the current crisis, as these drugs and equipment arrive almost daily, and according to predetermined dates, confirming the stability of the stock in the current period, and that its support promotion is part of the country’s long-term strategic plans.
Despite the current circumstances, the Ministry of Health has not forgotten its essential role towards its patients, to ensure the provision of their most prominent needs of medicines and medical supplies.
Informed sources at the Ministry of Health told the daily one of the drug is 3 injections needed for 3 patients and cost 2,250 million dollars, which is the most expensive drug in the world, and they arrived in Kuwait for the first time last November.
168 new cases reported
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health reported 168 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the tally to 2,248, while two deaths were reported. The total numbers of deaths reached 13.
During its daily briefing, Health Ministry spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said that 50 patients were in intensive care, 21 of them were in critical condition.
Those currently receiving treatment at hospitals reached 1,792 patients, said the spokesperson.
Death cases are of two Indian nationals, aged 75 and 57 respectively, both were receiving treatment at ICU.
The Health Minister Dr Basel Al-Sabah announced the recovery of 31 patients as the total is brought to 443 recoveries.
KRCS distributes food
Kuwait Red Crescent Society has distributed 1,000 food parcels to workers and residents of the quarantined Jleeb Al-Shoyoukh district.
KRCS Director General Abdulrahman Al-Oun said in remarks to KUNA on Wednesday 1,500 food baskets were distributed last week to workers living in this neighborhood and another quarantined region, Al-Mahboula.
The society secures delivery of food to such areas in a bid to limit peoples’ public movement, amid the current measures against coronavirus.
Center consists of 4 clinics
Airport Health Center Director Dr Abdul Qadir Taher said the center consists of four clinics — three at the airport and one in the center, while announcing the opening of a new clinic in Terminal Two, reports Al-Anba daily.
In an exclusive interview with the daily, Taher disclosed the center has one pharmacy and medical teams assigned in the clinics with a total of 47 members – nine doctors, 12 health inspectors and 26 nurses. He said the clinics at the airport operate round the clock and they receive passengers who might be sick including arrivals.
He added the center is open five days a week and it receives all patients. After checking the condition of patients, the center refers them to the health facilities in their respective residential areas or to the hospital, if necessary, he explained.
On the role of the center in addressing the corona crisis, he revealed the center examines passengers from abroad as part of the preventive measures. He said such passengers are asked to fill up the health control card and subjected to clinical examination. If symptoms are detected as per the existing protocol, those suspected of being infected with the virus are referred to the concerned health authorities. “We also examine the civilian and military aviation staff using the rapid test kits to ensure their safety,” he added.
“The Ministry of Health has instructed us to examine the Residency Law violators who are being repatriated to ensure they are free from the novel coronavirus. If the violators exhibit symptoms, they are transferred to the hospital. So far, no infections were discovered from violators who left the country recently,” he revealed.
He also confirmed the installation of 12 thermal cameras to check arrivals from abroad at all entry ports in the airport to guarantee their safety, indicating there is a plan to install more cameras in the future.