Manama: The Kuwait Cabinet will impose a nationwide lockdown from Sunday until May 30 in an attempt to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The restrictions will enter into force from 4pm Sunday and will be enforced for 20 days, its cabinet said in a statement on Friday.
Kuwait has seen a spike in coronavirus cases for the last couple of days. In view of the current situation, the Ministry of Health recommended to impose a total curfew to curb the spread to the cabinet.
“We are in the last phase of these measures and it is the full curfew, which will extend until after Eid Al- Fitr”, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Anas Al-Saleh said in a televised news conference.
Public sectors will work remotely during the lockdown. All private sector activities, excluding vital ones, will be suspended. All banks will be closed.
The restrictions does not apply to essential sectors like electricity and water, refinery and oil, health, security, and municipal services, as well as private companies providing vital services like AC maintenance.
But, the government allowed people to exercise outdoors between 4.30 to 6.30 pm every day. They are not allowed to use car and need to wear face mask and keep physical distancing.
Kuwait on April 20 expanded a nationwide curfew to 16 hours and extended a suspension of work in the public sector until May 31.
The cabinet decision comes after days of discernable increase in the daily number of coronavirus infections in the country. Kuwait registered three deaths from the virus and 641 new confirmed cases on Friday alone. The new cases are believed to be the highest reported in a single-day since the outbreak of the pandemic. The total infection tally reached 7,208 and fatalities rose to 47. More than 2,884 Indians were confirmed with the virus to date. A Keralite, identified as Ashokan (50), who hails from Kollam, died after contracting with the virus.
Meanwhile, Oman extended the lockdown of Muscat Governorate until May 29 as coronavirus cases in the country continue to soar. The country confirmed 154 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, bringing the total cases to 3,112.
