Coronavirus in Kuwait: What we know so far

KUWAIT: Kuwait has so far recorded 417 cases infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as of Friday. With the exception of 16 cases in intensive care, all cases are in stable condition and are recovering in quarantined locations designated by the government for this purpose, while 911 have been discharged from quarantine after exhibiting no symptoms during their 14-day quarantine period, the Ministry of Health confirmed. Meanwhile, 93 people have recovered completely after previously being infected with the virus, the ministry said. There are 324 people receiving treatment and 2,474 quarantined. Kuwait is taking measures to test Kuwaitis coming from infected areas for potential infection, as it has already tested thousands of people. Meanwhile, Kuwait requires all expatriates who arrived from travel on March 1 and beyond to visit Kuwait International Fairground where the Ministry of Health has set up a center at Hall 6 to test people for possible infection.

Curfew

Kuwait enforced a country-wide curfew from 5:00 pm to 4:00 am until further notice. Earlier, the government decided to close all shopping malls, beauty salons and barber shops as part of its measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The government also allowed restaurants to host a maximum of five people at a time and in case there are lines, the distance must be at least one meter between people.

Operating businesses

The following activities are allowed to operate outside of the curfew period between 5:00 am and 4:00 pm: 1- Various types of foodstuff and supplies stores and markets.

2- Laundromats.

3- Various type of repair shops.

4- Automobile repair, maintenance and spare parts. 5- Money exchangers.

6- Pharmacies.

7- Various types of restaurants.

8- Optical shops.

9- Administrative offices.

10- Cooking gas branches.

11- Co-ops’ family needs branches.

12- Feed shops.

Meanwhile, the following industrial and craft activities, which are licensed by the Public Authority for Industry (PAI), are allowed to open:

1- Food.

2- Petrochemicals.

3- Gases.

4- Plastic.

5- Cardboard and paper.

Precautions

All arrivals to Kuwait from all countries are to be placed under compulsory institutional quarantine for 14 days, during which the person is monitored, and prescribed health procedures are applied, the health ministry said. Kuwait halted all commercial flights until further notice. Authorities also announced a public holiday in the country from March 12 to April 9, with work resuming on April 12, while entities providing vital services will remain open.

State departments have been on high alert to take precautions against the potential spread of the virus. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has taken measures to make sure that facial masks, hand sanitizers and other goods remain accessible to the public. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has suspended classes for March at all public and private schools (for both students and teaching staffs); first from March 1 to March 12, and later extended it until March 29, before eventually suspending schools until August for grade 12 and October for other stages. Kuwait suspended issuing entry permits and visas unless those issued through diplomatic missions.

Hotlines

- The Ministry of Health has set the following hotlines to receive inquiries about the coronavirus 24/7: 24970967 - 96049698 - 99048619.

- The Education Ministry set the following hotlines to receive inquiries on school closures related to the anticoronavirus measures:

- 24970967 (24/7 hotline)

- 51575591 (Capital Educational Zone)

- 51576117 (Hawally Educational Zone)

- 51576576 (Farwaniya Educational Zone)

- 51577055 (Jahra Educational Zone)

- 51577655 (Ahmadi Educational Zone)

- 51577951 (Mubarak Al-Kabeer Educational Zone) - 51578171 (Religious Studies Department) - 51588599 (Private Education Department) - 51592515 (Services Department)

- 51594544 (Public Relations Department)

Medicine delivery

Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MOH) launched a new medicine delivery service for people in Kuwait, which they can use to order medications to be delivered during curfew hours. The medications will be delivered within 72 hours after the order is submitted. To place an order, patients should send a WhatsApp to the numbers for the hospitals and medical centers as listed below. The patient should include their name, Civil ID number, hospital or clinic file number, mobile phone number and the medicine needed to the following numbers:

- Amiri Hospital: 50880699

- Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital: 50880755 - Farwaniya Hospital: 50880852

- Adan Hospital: 50880908

- Jahra Hospital: 50881066

- Sabah Hospital: 97632660

- Jaber Hospital: 96992079

- Ibn Sina Hospital: 99613948

- Chest Hospital: 99258749

- Razi Hospital: 97633487

- Kuwait Cancer Control Center: 96735242 - Psychiatric Hospital: 97350113

- Physiotherapy Hospital: 99824037

- Maternity Hospital: 98559531

- As’ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center: 98514508 - Zain Hospital: 97552031

- NBK Hospital: 96931761

- Al-Rashed Allergy Hospital: 94162470

- Infectious Diseases Hospital: 96989164

- Palliative Care Hospital: 94024786

- Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center: 90952469

- KFH Addiction Treatment Center: 94169363