1,073 cases on lockdown-9
MoI warns on curfew permits
KUWAIT CITY, May 19, (Agencies): The Ministry of Health of Kuwait announced Tuesday that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has claimed the lives of three people in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll up to 121.
In his daily coronavirus update, the Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad stated that 1,073 people have tested positive for the highly contagious virus today, increasing the overall number of infections in the country to 16,764.
He estimated the overall number of active cases at 11,962, including 179 patients who are receiving care in the intensive care units.
Earlier, Health Minister Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah announced the recovery of 342 COVID-19 patients, bringing the total to 4,681 recoveries.
Kuwait ports paralyzed
The total lockdown, which was implemented in Kuwait from May 10, has completely paralyzed the country’s ports as a result of companies and individuals not being granted security permits to allow the release of their goods, which are accumulating beyond the ports’ capacity to accommodate, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting informed sources.
They rang the bells of danger, warning that continuation of this situation will lead to a greater crisis and cause shortage of both food and medicine stocks, unless the concerned agencies are aware of the seriousness of the situation and take necessary action.
The sources explained that thousand tons of commodities are stacked in the warehouses and container yards in Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports. They are no longer capable of receiving incoming ships due to the accumulation of goods.
Continuation of this situation may endanger import of food and frozen meat, and consequently thousands of importers and consumers will be affected.
Security permits for shipping agencies, customs clearance companies and individuals have not been issued since the implementation of the total lockdown. This prevents them from receiving imported goods and commodities, as thousand tons of them are accumulated in the container yards and warehouses.
The sources said, “About 90 percent of the goods and commodities in the country are imported. The absorptive capacity of the ports has been exhausted, as 26 warehouses in Shuwaikh Port as well as the container yards in Shuaiba are full to the maximum capacity.”
They indicated that truck drivers are currently unable to load the goods, because some checkpoints of Ministry of Interior have stopped them due to lack of security permits.
The sources revealed that Kuwait Ports Authority’s inability to receive ships and vessels currently would expose Kuwait to pay fines up to $50,000 for keeping them in waiting areas or returning those ships to the regional ports, thereby exposing companies and individuals to face huge losses.
MoI warns on curfew permits
Persons with curfew permits to go see a doctor should register precise information of their destinations in order to allow them further permits and thus avoid legal consequences, Ministry of Interior said Monday.
A ministry statement said persons wishing to see doctor in hospitals or clinics could obtain a curfew permit through: https://curfew.paci.gov.kw.
The person should show the permit for employee at the hospital or clinic who would verify information in the permit, it said, a step that would enable this person to obtain another permit in future if needed.
If the location mentioned in the permit does not match the actual destination, it said, the person would be banned from future permits and be questioned.
Kuwait Government imposed the curfew on May 10-30 with the aim of curbing spread of coronavirus.
Security arrest two girls
Kuwait security forces arrested two girls for breaking the curfew and would face legal charges, Ministry of Interior said monday.
A video was posted on social media showing the two girls bragging for violating the curfew and that they were above the law, a MoI statement said.
Security forces investigated the video and arrested the girls - an Arab and a Kuwaiti citizen - who were referred to questioning ahead of being charged, it added.
The security authorities will take all legal actions against any person violating the curfew, said the ministry.
MoH sets mask supply criteria
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health set out new ineluctable technical conditions and criteria for medical mask supplies.
The conditions embrace a certificate showing that masks are compatible with relevant standards, along with samples of various sizes, the ministry’s undersecretary for drug and food control Dr. Abdullah Al-Bader told KUNA.
Should China be the country of origin, then the name of the Chinese supplier has to be mentioned in both Chinese and English and the number of a registered certificate be attached, he stressed.
The fresh criteria mainly aim at thwarting the entry into the country of any medical product incompatible with relevant global standards with a view to protecting medical teams in the country, Al-Bader noted.
Time extended for food supply
Undersecretary of Kuwait’s Ministry of Social Affairs Abdulaziz Shuaib said Monday the cooperative stores are allowed to receive farm produce and other foodstuffs from 2:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
“The decision of the ministry to extend this time is meant to ensure that the cooperative stores are well supplied, thus providing the citizens and residents with sufficient fruits, vegetables and other foodstuffs,” he said in a press release.
“The total lockdown, meant to combat coronavirus pandemic, forced consumers to shop only once in six days,” he said, noting that the measure will ensure the availability of basic supplies for everybody.
Shuaib added that the ministry spares no effort in coping with the current emergency, praising the cooperation of the union of cooperative stores with the ministry in serving the consumers.
Cabinet touts SAB scrutiny
The Kuwaiti Cabinet on Monday underlined the significant role of the State Audit Bureau (SAB) in surveillance over spending on the fight against novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).
This came following a briefing by SAB Chairman Faisal Al-Shaya during a cabinet meeting held at Al-Seif Palace under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Al-Shaya expounded on the mechanism of considering spending orders from different state agencies for combatting the virus and fulfilling all relevant needs, said a cabinet statement.
The cabinet voiced satisfaction with the briefing of the SAB’s chief and stressed the agency’s constructive supervisory role and positive cooperation with other state bodies, leading to smooth disbursements and financing.