It seems that public awareness is absent from the realization of the basic goals of imposing a total lock down in Kuwait, and the implication in the decision of allowing a period of two hours of walking per day, as the videos and photos that circulated, all confirm the absence of awareness behind the decision and the goals behind the imposition of total lock down is lost as people go out for a walk.
Videos and pictures of the large crowds that came out caused anger and resentment as some of them walked in the vicinity of cooperative societies and shopping centers, large groups walked through the internal streets of the regions, and some ridding their bicycles and others took their dogs out on the street to take pictures, walking in some areas was a disaster which Kuwait has never seen on normal days in past.
In Salmiya, the two hours turned into an entertainment sporting social festival with crowds on Al Gulf Street and taking pictures as if everyone was living in a party.
In Farwaniya, the narrow and large squares turned into football fields in addition to bureaucracies on the roadsides. In Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh makeshift markets were back to their old habits selling food items without municipality permission.
There have been calls to reconsider the decision either to cancel it or to change the timing to be in the morning after dawn and raise the awareness through officials and media messages to guide everyone a healthy and proper way to exercise.
Some said it was necessary to adhere to wearing masks, because they are necessary, in addition to social distancing and that people should be careful in this regard, the need for individual awareness and for everyone to take care of himself and his family.
Some called for canceling the decision to walk and implement the total ban due to the outbreak of the corona virus stressing that the decision was not right and the evidence of chaos on the first day was quiet noticeable.
Due to lack of awareness of some communities in the cosmopolitan areas and residential areas including Salmiya, Hawally, Mahboula, Khaitan, Al-Farawaniyah and Fahaheel, which have a high population density have been seen taking undue advantage although they never go out for a walk without maintaining social distancing nor wearing masks.
Some said it is just a matter of 10 days and it is better to practice of physical activity at home and demanded the cancellation of the two-hour period, because this matter is unacceptable and illogical.
In internal areas of Salmiya, areas were crowded with people, men, women, and children, and even the elderly people went out, it seemed as if it was a period of festival for an audience witnessing first actual marathon with people hands rising to applause and encourage, and whistling just as if it was a heated sport competition.
It was noticed that people don’t come out to exercise but most of them come out in large numbers to take pictures and videos in group and individuals most of them were smiling while taking his first memorial photo where as some were screaming “Smile” with their face masks and gloves removed, where as some showed victory sign with their fingers as if Corona was defeated.
Source : Arab Times
