Phase 4 of restart plan to launch next week

A virtual session of the Cabinet held on Thursday decided to launch the fourth phase of the gradual resumption of business and other activities from Tuesday, 18 August.

The cabinet’s decision comes following recommendations by the Ministry of Health, which evaluated that the coronavirus pandemic was showing signs of stabilization in Kuwait.

Some of the businesses, which were originally scheduled for phase five, including sports clubs and gyms, barbershops, beauty salons, health resorts and tailors will be allowed to reopen, said Acting Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi during a media briefing.

The resumption of these activities will, however, be regulated by several measures that are to be announced in the coming days and include strict adherence to health and safety guidelines, said the Acting Undersecretary.

He added, the reopening will allow for public bodies and privately-owned establishments to permit 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 added that the ministry is closely monitoring the situation and has made contingency plans ready to take action in the event of a second wave of the virus.

Revealing that Kuwait expects to receive vaccinations against the virus in the coming months, he said that he “was confident that if everyone adheres to the health guidelines provided by the ministry a second wave would not occur”.

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