Kuwait City: In March, Kuwait reported the highest number of cases and COVID-19 related deaths in a single month since the start of the pandemic.
Despite the partial curfew enforced on March 7 to reduce the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Health recorded 39,969 cases and 240 COVID-19 related deaths.
The peak of highest recorded cases in a single day was on March 4, where the total number of positive cases was 1,716. As for COVID-19 related deaths, on March 23 Kuwait reported that there were 13 deaths.
Surge in patients
Hospitals also saw a surge in COVID-19 patients, especially in the past few days where the occupancy rate jumped to 26.2 per cent.
In addition, patients undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) increased drastically, especially on March 28 where the number of ICU patients reached 251; the highest occupancy rate since the start of the pandemic.
At the beginning of the month around 67 per cent of reported cases were amongst citizens. That number dropped to 55 per cent on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Health’s spokesman, Dr. Abdullah Al Sanad.
Kuwait witnessed a steep rise in cases and deaths compared to February, where the total number of cases reported were 25,695 and 124 COVID-19 related deaths.
COVID-19 patients admitted into the hospitals almost doubled compared to December where occupancy rate was around 8 to 11 per cent.
Return to normalcy
Local media reported that according to a government official, life will slowly begin returning to normal by July.
As for opening of the airport, the source stated that once all citizens are vaccinated then the airport will resume regular commercial activity. So far, there is a limited quantity of passengers that are allowed to enter Kuwait per day and since February 7 non-Kuwaitis are barred from traveling to Kuwait.
Despite the resuming of some activities, the source stated that health measures, mainly wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, will last until the end of 2022.
