COVID-19: Kuwait mulls over introducing on-the-spot fines for failing to wear masks

Cairo: The Kuwaiti government is drafting a bill allowing levying on the-spot–fines on people failing to comply with health precautions including the wearing of protective face masks, Al Rai newspaper reported Friday.

According to Kuwaiti law, such violations are punishable by up to three months in jail and a maximum fine of 5,000 dinars.

But those penalties cannot be imposed without offenders referred to a law court.

A ministerial committee tasked with overseeing compliance with health rules has asked for a law allowing levying an immediate penalty, according to an official.

“The face mask has become the essential recognised protection from the spread of the coronavirus,” the committee’s head Ahmed Al Manfouhi said.

On Thursday, Kuwait confirmed 900 new cases of COVID-19, its highest daily infection rate in many days, pushing the country’s total to 87,378.

“The committee discussed activating monitoring tools on non-wearing of face masks and recommended the Health Ministry to prepare a draft law that will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers to impose some direct penalties for failing to wear the mask,” Al Manfouhi added.

The panel, he added, has decided to allow restaurants to reoperate for 24 hours and the reopening of massaging facilities.

However, cafes are still banned from serving shisha as a health precaution, the official said.