Kuwait to ease Covid-19 restrictions and resume some flights

Country to resume direct flights with Morocco and the Maldives

Kuwait will allow direct flights to Morocco and the Maldives starting August 1. Gustavo Ferrari / The National

The Kuwaiti Cabinet has cancelled its decision to close commercial activities at 8pm, starting Tuesday. The country will also lift a number of Covid-19 restrictions involving commercial activities and flights.

Kuwait will allow direct flights to Morocco and the Maldives starting August 1, the head of the governmental communication centre and spokesman for the Cabinet, Tareq Al Mezrem, said.

Kuwait will also open all activities, except for gatherings which include conferences, weddings and social events, and will also open special activities for children, starting from September 1, Mr Al Mezrem said. Only those vaccinated can take part.

People who are not vaccinated are allowed to visit government buildings, hospitals, private medical centres, pharmacies, consumer co-operative societies, and food and catering outlets, starting from August 1, the Cabinet added.

The Ministry of Education also confirmed they are prepared for the school year to begin in September and are reviewing a wide range of new procedures that would allow students to return to classrooms full time, while ensuring their safety.

Schools will follow health ministry guidelines and implement Covid-19 safety measures to protect students and staff from the virus.

Kuwait reported its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases on July 6, with 1,993 new infections, but in recent weeks cases have been declining.

On Monday, Kuwait's Ministry of Health reported 988 new cases and nine deaths.

Earlier this month, the country began direct flights with the UK, the US, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland, Kyrgyzstan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.