The crowded streets, panic and unjustified buying behavior among Kuwaitis and expats rushing to cooperatives and supermarkets at malls to purchase necessary goods and products was noticed today.
In spite of assurances from many officials that the strategic food stock is abundant and is sufficient for everyone for long period, although the import of goods and products from abroad is continuing and will not stop this has not fallen on deaf ears as the phobia of buying and storing goods increased especially in the blessed month of Ramadan.
It was published on Arab Times four days back, stating that on 13th Apr a report was submitted to the health undersecretary includes a package of recommendations, most importantly imposing a total ban for 14 days in all areas of Kuwait after the last flight lands in Kuwait carrying Kuwaitis who were stranded abroad and extending the curfew hours to reduce the chances of people getting infected while at the same time assessing the situation every two weeks.
A total ban is likely to be implemented in all regions of the country in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan, according to a senior government source who assured that the plan to implement the total ban is ready, and it is waiting for a green light from His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, noting the Ministry of Interior held an lengthy meeting to determine the important mechanisms for a total ban and prepare for the possible decision of the Council of Ministers in this regard, stressing that the security services are fully prepared, and have drawn up a plan to patrols in all areas.
The source said that the Ministry of Interior will use the army as it has used the National Guard recently to carry out the procedures. The Ministry of Health and other concerned authorities have put forward views and proposals on the total ban for Saturday and Sunday and the Cabinet will discuss the mechanism of delivering food and medicine to citizens and expats as well as the ambulances services to homes if necessary.
The Council of Ministers will also discuss the experiences of some countries that have successfully implemented the total ban and will choose the most appropriate form for Kuwait.
The senior source said that the concerned authorities have drawn up a plan based on isolating the areas and preventing the expats from leaving the houses except to the cooperative society / supermarket or the dispensary, and this will continue until after Eid Al-Fitr to carry out preventive measures in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.
He pointed out that the shopping hours in the cooperative societies will be canceled immediately after the application of the ban which comes after an alarmingly increase in number of infection cases.
Source : Arab Times
