Kuwait to allow vaccinated travelers entry beginning August 1

Kuwait announced on Thursday that non-citizens vaccinated against COVID-19 can travel to the Gulf country beginning Aug. 1, six months after closing its borders to travelers.  

In an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus, the Kuwaiti government in February banned non-citizens from entering the country until further notice and closed its land, sea and border crossings. 

On Thursday, government spokesperson Tareq Al Mezram said foreign travelers must have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca or Moderna coronavirus vaccines or one dose of the Johnson Johnson vaccine. 

Mezram said they must also show proof of a negative PCR test conducted no more than 72 hours before their travel and quarantine for seven days after landing in Kuwait. 

Beginning Aug. 1, Kuwaitis who wish to travel out of the country must be fully vaccinated. Exceptions will be made for children, pregnant women and people with certain pre-approved medical conditions.

Only those who are vaccinated can visit large shopping malls, gyms, cafes and restaurants across Kuwait starting June 27, Mezram said. 

Gulf News reports that around 67% of Kuwait’s population of more than 4 million has received at least one vaccine dose. Starting in August, children in Kuwait ages 12 to 15 will be eligible to receive vaccines. 

As of Thursday, the oil-rich country had registered more than 332,000 cases and 1,842 deaths from the virus.