Kuwait to go under total lockdown for 20 days

The Kuwaiti authorities have announced a "full" curfew in the country for 20 days beginning today in an effort to slow the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak and prepare the grounds for what they describe as a "gradual reopening and return to normal life."

The full curfew will come into effect at 16:00 today and will last until 30 May. But residents will be allowed to leave their homes to exercise between 16:30-18:30 daily within the confines of their respective residential areas if they abide by social distancing policies.

The government also decided to limit issuance of curfew permits for people working in vital departments. Only necessary government departments will be permitted to work, while private sector operations will stop, albeit with some exceptions. Home deliveries will be also stopped with an exception of cooperative societies, food stores and pharmacies, while permits to leave the home will only be limited to those working in so-called 'vital' sectors. Live interviews with media outlets will also be suspended and replaced by online interviews.

The moves come as the number of new coronavirus cases has risen markedly in recent days. Kuwait's ministry of health today reported a record high 1,065 new cases in the last 24 hours, up by more than 400 from the previous high on 8 May. The total number of infected people in the country now stands at 8,688, up from 4,983 just one week earlier, with 58 deaths.

Kuwait had until now been adhering to a partial curfew from 16:00 to 08:00 daily, and a complete suspension of activities in the public sector and by government ministries since the second week of March.

The further restrictions will have a negative impact on already suppressed transport fuel demand in the country.

Kuwait's state-owned refiner KNPC reported in mid-April that demand for jet fuel and gasoline in the country had plunged by 70pc and 55pc, respectively, in the past eight weeks as a result of the containment measures.

By Ieva Paldaviciute