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Kuwait enters second phase of easing Covid-19 restrictions, with malls, cafes and parks reopened

Public and private sectors can resume work with a maximum of 30 per cent capacity

by Aarti Nagraj

July 1, 2020

Kuwait began the second phase of easing Covid-19 restrictions across the country on Tuesday, June 30, with malls, restaurants and cafes, and public parks reopening after a closure of more than three months.

Public and private sectors can resume work with a maximum of 30 per cent capacity, while operations can resume in the financial, construction and retail sectors.

Curfew hours have also been relaxed and will now start at 8pm instead of 7pm, ending at 5am.

However, certain restrictions remain – malls are allowed to operate until 6pm, while dine-in is not permitted at restaurants and cafes.

The second phase is scheduled to last for 30 days.

Kuwait started implementing a five-phased plan in June to reopen the economy completely by mid-September.

The country had imposed a complete curfew from May 10-30 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

While the lockdown has now been eased in most parts across the country, some areas remain under curfew.

Read: Kuwait begins phased plan to reopen economy, over a million expats remain in lockdown

Earlier this week, officials also confirmed that Kuwait will resume international passenger flights as of August 1 as part of a three-phase plan.

Kuwait had suspended regular international commercial passenger flights in March as a precautionary measure to contain the virus.

Flights will be operated at 30 per cent capacity during the first phase, with a maximum of 10,000 passengers and 100 flights per day.

That will be raised to 60 per cent capacity with a maximum of 20,000 passengers and 200 flights daily in the second stage, which will begin on February 1, 2021.

The final phase will start on August 1, 2021 at 100 per cent capacity.

Read: Kuwait to restart commercial international passenger flights from August 1

Kuwait reported 671 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total number of infections in the country to 46,195.

The total death toll in the country due to the virus currently stands at 354.