Kuwait, Tunisia receive medical supplies from abroad to fight COVID-19

Kuwait, 12 April 2020 [Fik/News Sources]: Arab states – Kuwait and Tunisia – have received medical supplies from foreign nations in aid to fight the spread of COVID-19, local media reported on Saturday.

A Tunisair flight from China carrying 27 tonnes of medical equipment landed in the country on Saturday, with more aid flights expected in the coming days, according to Health Minister Abdellatif Mekki.

Meanwhile, Kuwait has also received an Indian Air Force plane carrying medical supplies, according to state-run KUNA.

Both countries have announced repatriation efforts to help stranded citizens amid the outbreak.

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics in Tunisia, which has so far confirmed 685 coronavirus cases, has said it will facilitate the repatriation, with the first scheduled flight to take off on Sunday.

Returning citizens will be placed in mandatory isolation for 14 days upon arriving in the country.

In Kuwait, the same measures were being taken to quarantine returning citizens. The State Audit Bureau said the country will establish 12 isolation areas for these people, adding they were in talks with hotels to use their facilities.

Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said outbound flights for expatriates who wish to come back to their home countries will also be scheduled.

The flights will head to several destinations in accordance with the cabinet decision issued on April 9, the directorate said.

The total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 1,154 with 133 recoveries and one death.