Collateral damages of COVID-19

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CORONAVIRUS came to us without permission and infected whoever it could infect, while others continue to survive; all is by the grace of Almighty Allah.

Our rational government adopted several serious decisions to limit its spread, for which we are thankful.

However, the collateral damages of this pandemic have exceeded the direct damages mentioned earlier, according to some people’s opinions.

Due to the pandemic, entry into Kuwait has been restricted for citizens of several countries, ships and planes. Flights to and from other countries have been suspended, and schools and universities have been closed. The economic life in Kuwait has been significantly affected after complexes and commercial markets closed their doors to employees and customers. Several hotels are also closed because many of their clients cancelled their reservations. Similar effect applies on restaurants and cafés in almost every commercial entity.

In this regard, the manager of a prestigious commercial group that runs five restaurants in Kuwait said the movement of people has become almost nonexistent recently.

The manager affirmed that their daily revenue is usually not less than KD 3,000, but since Tuesday and Wednesday last week, the business did not generate more than KD 250 because people prefer not to leave their houses due to the pandemic, and instead opt for home delivery services.

Since the announcement of the first coronavirus case in Kuwait, the situation changed in a dramatic manner due to the fear of increase in the transmission of the virus from one person to another.

Coronavirus has forced everyone, old and young, to stay at home from 5:00 pm to 4:00 am. This has led people to discover another world that they did not realize they would live in. They are bored of looking at their mobile phones; they now have time for social media, and they have memorized the free and paid television programs.

Wives’ dealings with domestic workers and children dominate the ears and eyes in the houses. Social distancing between wives and their husbands and children and vice-versa is in play in accordance with the precautionary health measures that advice limiting physical contact and ensuring communication is done from a distance.

Coronavirus has led people to cancel meetings within the family and with relatives such as fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who used to meet in the evenings at one of their houses.

Friendships have been affected too, as well as gathering in diwaniyas, cafés and chalets. People are forced to stay in their houses for longer periods and alone. Some even consume contrabands such as liquor in large quantities due to the free time at hand. Such sessions used to occur once every weekend in chalets or during events and parties.

The list of collateral damages caused by the coronavirus is long. May Almighty Allah protect us all from it, and may He rescue us from it, which will be soon by the grace of the Almighty.

By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli

Former Minister of Oil

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