Medical workers conduct Covid-19 antigen tests on Palestinians entering Israel from the Gaza Strip. Bloomberg
Medical workers conduct Covid-19 antigen tests on Palestinians entering Israel from the Gaza Strip. Bloomberg
Commuters wearing protective masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 get out of a tram in Istanbul. Turkey says the highly contagious Omicron variant now makes up more than 10 per cent of new cases in the country's crowded provinces. AP
Commuters wearing protective masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 get out of a tram in Istanbul. Turkey says the highly contagious Omicron variant now makes up more than 10 per cent of new cases in the country's crowded provinces. AP
A nurse collects samples at a Covid-19 drive-through in the NMC Hospital, Dubai Investments Park. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A nurse collects samples at a Covid-19 drive-through in the NMC Hospital, Dubai Investments Park. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Pharmacies in the UAE have started selling Covid-19 self-testing kits. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Pharmacies in the UAE have started selling Covid-19 self-testing kits. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Audience members wear protective masks during a lecture in Ankara, Turkey. AP
Audience members wear protective masks during a lecture in Ankara, Turkey. AP
An Egyptian worshipper lights candles during Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Cairo. AP
An Egyptian worshipper lights candles during Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Cairo. AP
Worshippers attend Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Cairo. AP
Worshippers attend Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Cairo. AP
People arrive to receive Covid-19 vaccine doses at a facility in Kuwait City. EPA
People arrive to receive Covid-19 vaccine doses at a facility in Kuwait City. EPA

Gulf

Kuwait tells citizens to leave European countries amid rise in Covid-19 cases

Warning issued for UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Ukraine

The National

January 03, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron

Kuwait has told its citizens in the UK to return home because of a “significant and unprecedented” rise in coronavirus cases there.

The UK reported a daily record of 189,846 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, far more than during previous waves.

Kuwait's embassies in Italy, Spain, Germany, Ukraine and France issued similar advice, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

“The embassies stressed the necessity of abiding by Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry’s call to citizens to adjourn travel and not leave Kuwait at present for their safety amid unstable health conditions in Spain, Germany and Italy, as well as other countries,“ the report said.

The embassies issued a warning that lockdowns and other restrictions could be imposed in western countries as the highly infectious Omicron coronavirus strain continues to spread.

Kuwait has begun to offer a third, or booster, dose of the coronavirus vaccine free of charge to people over the age of 50, without the need to make an appointment first.

A member of staff walks through a ward for Covid-19 patients at King's College Hospital in London. PA
A member of staff walks through a ward for Covid-19 patients at King's College Hospital in London. PA
A sign urging residents to wear face masks in Nottingham. People who have tested positive for the coronavirus will now be able to leave home on day seven if they have two negative tests. AP
A sign urging residents to wear face masks in Nottingham. People who have tested positive for the coronavirus will now be able to leave home on day seven if they have two negative tests. AP
A waiter cleans a table at an empty restaurant in London. Authorities are still urging people to stay at home amid fears over the Omicron coronavirus variant. Reuters
A waiter cleans a table at an empty restaurant in London. Authorities are still urging people to stay at home amid fears over the Omicron coronavirus variant. Reuters
Passengers wearing Santa hats sit on the top deck of a tour bus as they view the Christmas lights in central London. AFP
Passengers wearing Santa hats sit on the top deck of a tour bus as they view the Christmas lights in central London. AFP
Nurses work at a desk surrounded by Christmas decorations in a ward for Covid-19 patients at King's College Hospital. PA
Nurses work at a desk surrounded by Christmas decorations in a ward for Covid-19 patients at King's College Hospital. PA
Empty tables outside a restaurant in the Seven Dials district of London. Covid-19 infections have surged in recent days, authorities say. AFP
Empty tables outside a restaurant in the Seven Dials district of London. Covid-19 infections have surged in recent days, authorities say. AFP
People receive a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at a temporary clinic set up in the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast. AFP
People receive a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at a temporary clinic set up in the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast. AFP
Shoppers stroll through Carnaby Street in London. AP
Shoppers stroll through Carnaby Street in London. AP
People, most of them without masks, skate around the Christmas tree at the Natural History Museum in London. Reuters
People, most of them without masks, skate around the Christmas tree at the Natural History Museum in London. Reuters
Health workers speak with a patient inside a vaccination centre in Liverpool. AFP
Health workers speak with a patient inside a vaccination centre in Liverpool. AFP
Tourists cross Westminster Bridge in London. AP
Tourists cross Westminster Bridge in London. AP
A sign outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, which has been forced to close its doors for a week due to staff shortages related to coronavirus. PA
A sign outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, which has been forced to close its doors for a week due to staff shortages related to coronavirus. PA
Commuters at a quiet Waterloo Station in south London. PA
Commuters at a quiet Waterloo Station in south London. PA
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

On Women's Day
Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

Updated: January 03, 2022, 10:32 AM`
KuwaitCoronavirus