Need to take strict measures to prevent further spread of virus

This news has been read 115673 times!

Ministry ‘expresses concern’ over exhaustion caused to medical staff

KUWAIT CITY, March 11: The high preparation level in handling repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic for more than a year caused exhaustion on the part of the medical staff, reports Al-Qabas daily. This has prompted the Ministry of Health (MoH) to express concern and a warning during the Council of Ministers meeting on March 9. Health Minister Dr Basel Al-Sabah stressed the need to take strict measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. He pointed out that the increase in the number of cases in intensive care and the rate of occupancy in hospitals indicates a need to take strict measures to prevent further spread of the virus.

The minister explained that the use of hospital beds not designated for corona patients most likely contributed to increase in the infection rate among patients. He pointed out that the current health situation in the country due to the increase in coronavirus infections has exhausted the medical staff in the ministry, as they were forced to be on high alert and work at maximum capacity for more than a year in all health sectors. He also emphasized the need to vaccinate the population until the epidemic ends.

Presentation
On the other hand, Buthaina Al-Mudhaf – Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs at the ministry – conducted a visual presentation showing the summary of the current situation in Kuwait, leading to these recommendations:

1. Partial curfew for four weeks from 5:00 pm until 5:00 am with the closure of the following:
■ Malls and popular markets
■ Restaurants and coffee shops where services are limited to deliveries only
■ Friday Market, Fish Market, Sheep Market
■ Fish auction and any other kind of auction

2. Possibility of imposing partial curfew during weekdays and total curfew during weekends
3. Maintaining the necessary services during curfew hours to enable delivery services; such as cooperative societies, supermarkets, foodstuff shops and pharmacies
4. Closure of the land ports, except for workers in the divided zone – and land freight
5. Commitment to the rule on limiting workforce to 30 percent in government institutions and 50 percent in private institutions with penalties for those who do not adhere to health regulations (social distancing and masks) for entities and individuals
6. Buses are limited to 30 percent occupancy rate and only two passengers for taxis.

The ministry said those who violate quarantine regulations must face tougher deterrent measures, noting that a large proportion of them violate the procedures on a daily basis without deterrence. It also called for toughening measures to limit gatherings.

In the event of a report on any gatherings and social events, the perpetrators must face harsher penalties. This is in addition to intensifying efforts of the relevant authorities in conducting awareness campaigns on the correct behavior during the grace period (outside the curfew hours), as well as on the proper behavior of those who tested positive and those in contact with them.

This news has been read 115673 times!