By B Izzak

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health yesterday told the Parliamentary Health Panel that the pandemic situation in the country is 'assuring' but called for caution and for complying with health conditions. Head of the Assembly Health and Labor committee MP Saleh Al-Mutairi said the committee discussed the latest developments regarding COVID-19 virus, adding that the "Ministry of Health stressed that the situation is assuring but called for caution".

He said the Ministry has its policy of dealing with the pandemic and is calling on the public to continue wearing face masks and observing necessary health conditions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs meanwhile, called on Kuwaiti citizens to defer travel plans at present unless it is necessary in the second appeal by authorities in a few days following the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant known as Omicron.

In a statement, the Ministry urged Kuwaitis to comply with a statement by the Council of Ministers on Sunday to postpone travel now because of the new variant. The Ministry said that travel should be postponed until necessary in order to avoid rapidly changing policies by various countries while countering the spread of the new variant. It also called on Kuwaitis currently outside the country to contact nearest Kuwaiti missions abroad.