Kuwait to lift partial curfew for Eid; indefinitely bars entry from four countries

On Monday, Kuwait’s Cabinet decided to lift the partial curfew imposed across the country on the first day of Eid Al Fitr, but with certain restrictions still in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The decision will take effect from 1am on the first day of Eid, said the Government Communication Center head Tariq Al Mezrim.

Commercial establishments will be required to shut from 8pm until 5am. Pharmacies, supermarkets, healthcare providers, as well as restaurants and cafes, are excluded from the decision, until further notice, according to a statement issued by the official Kuwait News Agency. Restaurants and cafes, although open, will only be permitted to offer takeaway and home delivery services.

Cabinet set to lift partial curfew on first day of Eid https://t.co/xaxfw6atUk #KUNA #KUWAIT

— Kuwait News Agency – English Feed (@kuna_en) May 10, 2021

Cinemas and theaters are allowed to open, but only those who have been vaccinated will be allowed to enter.

The cabinet added with regards to attendance of employees at public and private offices in the country, starting Monday, May 17, and until further notice, the number of employees at these workplaces must not exceed 60 per cent.

In another significant development in Kuwait, on Monday, the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that it was indefinitely barring direct commercial flights from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Those who have resided in or transited through any of those four countries must spend a minimum of 14 days outside of these countries to be allowed to enter Kuwait. Cargo flights will remain unaffected by this decision.

الطيران المدني : ايقاف رحلات الطيران التجارية المباشرة مع الدول التالية ( النيبال – باكستان – بنغلاديش – سيرلانكا ) باستثناء رحلات الشحن وذلك حتى اشعار آخر ، ويمنع دخول البلاد للمقيمين القادمين من تلك الدول ما لم يقيموا خارج هذه الدول مدة 14 يوما على الأقل . pic.twitter.com/JzJNXT7PcT

— الطيران المدني (@Kuwait_DGCA) May 10, 2021

Kuwait’s decision came hours after the UAE announced that it would suspended entry of travellers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, effective May 12, 2021 at 11.59pm.

Read: UAE suspends entry of travellers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka