22/07/2020
22/07/2020
Air travel safety measures outlined
KUWAIT CITY, July 22: Ministry of Health is committed to implementing the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which emphasize continuation of precaution and commitment to health measures such as wearing masks, maintaining physical spacing, and preventing gatherings along with other measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 virus.
In an exclusive statement made to Al Anba daily in response to a question about the re-closure of the commercial complexes during the five-day Eid Al-Adha holidays, the sources said, “We are committed to implementing a protocol that aims mainly at protecting the health of citizens and residents.
Our first goal is to limit the spread of the virus.” Economic sources expressed concern about the re-closure, as seen in some neighboring countries.
For example, the Supreme Committee in the Sultanate of Oman decided to completely close the governorates of the Sultanate from Saturday, July 25 until Saturday, Aug 8.
The decision stipulated prevention of movement and closure of all public places and commercial stores during the said period from 7:00 pm until 6:00 am, and during the closing period, patrolling and control activities will be intensified.
The committee stressed the continued prevention of gatherings of all kinds, especially Eid prayers, traditional markets, greeting gatherings and collective celebrations of the Eid.
The Egyptian Ministry of Immigration says 13 laboratories have been designated to issue the ‘PCR’ for the workers that will return to Kuwait during the coming period, reports Al- Seyassah daily.
Air travel safety measures
Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority has presented a set of rules for the safe resumption of air travel, as the country prepares to open its airport for commercial flights next month while assuaging travel concerns for coronavirus- wary passengers.
The protocols encompass measures including random testing on passengers arriving in and departing Kuwait’s International Airport, Saleh Al- Fadaghi, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) deputy director general for airport affairs, said in a statement.
The new rules mandate all travelers to wear protective face masks and keep a hand sanitizer in their possession, besides strictly abiding by social distancing guidelines, he clarified.
As per the new guidelines, departing passengers are required to provide negative COVID-19 test results before boarding their flights, where they will be instructed to keep hand luggage to a minimum, he said.
He went on to explain that manual checks of tickets have now been scaled back as a result of the pandemic, in favor of more popular digital and etickets whose scanning require no physical contact.
The new measures call on passengers to be present at the airport no less than four hours before departure, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey, added the official.
The new rules add that says it is not allowed to enter the passenger buildings except for employees and passengers, and in the case of persons with special needs, the elderly and special cases that require the presence of one companion while entering the airport.
Failure to comply with the procedures mentioned in the guidelines exposes the violator to the application of laws in force.
The instructions mandate all Kuwaitis to register with the ‘Kuwait-Traveler’ application and obtaining the barcode for all stages of travel. Commercial flights at Kuwait's International Airport will resume from Aug 1 after a four month hiatus, part of a three stage resumption plan starting at no more than 30 percent capacity.