The Cabinet decision to allow the resumption of some businesses amid phase four of the coronavirus restart plan, to fall on Tuesday, comes after pandemic numbers stabilized, a health official said on Thursday. These businesses, which were originally scheduled for phase five, will include sports clubs and gyms, barbershops, beauty salons, health resorts and tailors, Health Ministry Acting Undersecretary Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi told a press conference.
The move will be regulated by measures, which are to be announced soon, aimed at compelling adherence to health guidelines, he underlined. Separately, he said the following phase will allow for public bodies and privately-owned establishments to allow the attendance of over 50 percent of their workforce. It would also allow customers to be seated at restaurants and cafés and the use of public transport while committing to social distancing rules.
Asked about the reasons behind daily case numbers remaining between 600-700, he said this was a result of non-compliance with health guidelines. The ministry has also made contingency plans, is monitoring the situation, and will be ready to take action in the event of a second wave of the virus. Kuwait expects to receive vaccinations in the coming months, he added, saying he was confident that “if guidelines are met, there will not be a second wave.”
