KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Cabinet held its weekly session via videoconference on Monday under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, discussing the country's health conditions in the shadow of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), namely in some isolated districts. Following the session, Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh said the ministers examined a report presented by the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs Dr Buthaina Al-Mudhaf, explaining conditions in the isolated areas of Farwaniya, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Mahboula with respect of the population density and living conditions. Such a status has caused rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, amid risks of its transmission to other areas, she explained to the ministers.

The assistant undersecretary presented results of isolation of these districts, namely proportions of increasing confirmed cases and results of field medical examinations. Her report included proposals on how to preserve the residents' health, ensure correct implementation of health conditions, preserving the health system, without contradiction with the plan for phased restoration of normal life. On these bases, the Cabinet decided to task the ministerial coronavirus emergency committee to examine in details conditions of these areas, results of the isolation, along with consideration to the need for boosting the economy in the shadow of the residents' living and social conditions. The panel study will be referred to the next Cabinet session scheduled tomorrow.

Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Humoud Al-Sabah briefed the ministers about the country's health conditions in the shadow of the pandemic, along with the reaped positive results, stressing on the necessity to continue to adhere to the health terms, social distancing and relevant medical measures. Meanwhile, President of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah and senior DGCA officials briefed the Cabinet about a three-phase plan to resume operations at Kuwait International Airport, which would begin on August 1. The cabinet assigned DGCA to make sure the airport fully equipped to honor health authorities' criteria in a drive to curb spread of the virus.

The government, said Saleh, also assigned the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs to start resuming services for people with disabilities, and rehabilitation services for students with mental disability. The government approved a draft decree over the establishment of the international American university, and was referred to His Highness the Amir. It also approved draft decrees over an MoU between Kuwait and South Korean custom departments, an Arab protocol on combating human trafficking and an Arab agreement on fighting transnational organized crime.

The government also approved draft agreements with Sierra Leone, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Gambia, Greece and the Netherlands. It also approved draft laws regarding the civil and commercial laws, postponing installments of insolvent fund and Public Institute For Social Security. In the meantime, the government condemned an attack on a stock exchange in the Pakistan city of Karachi which killed and injured a number of people. Kuwait, said Minister Saleh, rejects all forms of terrorism and violence. – KUNA