Kuwait airport to be fully operational when COVID vaccine available

KUWAIT CITY: The Executive Committee for the restarting of Commercial Flights decided to exempt the aircraft and technical crews from the 14-day home quarantine period, as per the procedures by the Ministry of Health to examine them continuously during specific periods.

This was as per what was stated by the Deputy Director General for Kuwait Airport Affairs, Saleh Al-Fadaghi, as currently all arrivals there have been no new procedures about reducing home quarantine or allowing them to be institutionalized.

Al-Fadaghi stated, said in his statement that the committee has decided to restart service in restaurants and cafes to the public in accordance with health and preventive requirements, and to open prayer rooms to perform prayers only without sitting, the decisions issued came after recommendations were submitted by civil aviation that had the approval of the health authorities.

He further stated that travel requirements are subject to continuous review, the operational plan to return commercial flights at Kuwait International Airport did not exceed 15%, while the decision for it according to the requirements of the first phase is not to exceed 30%.

Al-Fadaghi stated that, “Whenever the Corona vaccine is available in the country, travel restrictions will be lifted directly to reach 100%, as it was before. The proposals aimed at easing restrictions on travelers are still being studied. What has been implemented is an increase of time limit for PCR certificate from 72 hrs to 96 hrs which facilitates travelers and children below 6 yrs are exempted from PCR test.” reports Al Qabas.

Regarding reducing the home quarantine from 14 days to 7 days or less, and allowing institutional quarantine for expats coming into the country, Al-Fadaghi stated that “the health authorities are concerned with making such decisions, and so far there are no amendments contained in this regard.”

The Director-General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation M. Yousef Al-Fawzan called for reducing the quarantine period in Kuwait for arrivals. It would be 7 days instead of 14 days. Al-Fawzan said in a letter addressed to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health.