Full lockdown possible last 10 days of Ramadan

KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (Agencies): Based on the health situation in the country, the option of implementing a full lockdown during the last 10 days of Ramadan has been proposed to the government, local media reported, according to gulfnews.com.

The announcement comes after the government stated that beginning on April 8 the curfew hours will change to 7:00 pm until 5:00 am and will stay in effect for two weeks.

During the two weeks, the government will be evaluating the health situation and if the cases and COVID-19 related deaths do not decrease a total lockdown may be put in place.

If a full lockdown was to be implemented it will be placed after April 22 and likely last until after Eid Al Fitr.

Meanwhile, starting on the first day of Ramadan people will be allowed to walk in residential neighbourhoods from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. In addition, food deliveries will be permitted to operate between 5:00 pm to 3:00 am and people will be allowed to obtain a permit to go to the supermarkets between 7:00 pm till 12 midnight.

As for Tarawih prayers, health authorities will allow for them to go ahead as scheduled but will reduce the timing of the prayer to avoid transmission.

In the lead up to Ramadan, religious leaders stated that both receiving the vaccine and conducting a PCR test do not break a person’s fast.

Kuwait said 1,203 people tested positive for coronavirus while 14 related deaths were reported on Sunday, taking the total to 237,192 and 1,353, respectively, according to the health ministry.

Another 1,422 people were cured of the virus, raising the total of those to have overcome the disease to 221,943, ministry spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad told a press conference.

The number of people hospitalised with the virus currently stands at 13,896, with 224 of them in intensive care units, he added, revealing that some 8,369 swab tests were conducted over the last day out of a total of 2,092,577.

He went on to urge nationals and expatriates alike that abiding by health precautions, mainly, following social distancing rules, is the only way to halt the spread of the virus.