CORONAVIRUS DIARIES: DAY #103 – Unceasing Service of our Frontliners

June 22, 2020

“Heroism is not blind courage: it is a selfless action. It is knowing the odds are stacked against you, but feeling that you must do what you do for the good of others.”

John Baldoni

In this coronavirus health crisis, everyone depends on the gallant works of our beloved frontliners. As they continue to risks their lives, every individual calls them the new heroes of the modern age. Facing the threats of coronavirus disease and saving other people’s lives is their primary objective. As we wait for the world’s return to normalcy, let us continue to support the courageous acts of our modern heroes. 

In Kuwait, the Ministry of Health logged on 641 new COVID-19 cases with four additional deaths and 530 recoveries. It brings to a total record of 40,291 cases with 330 fatalities and 31,770 recovered cases. Within the new cases, 383 are Kuwait citizens composing 59.75 percent, while 258 are residents of various nationalities consisting of 40.25 percent of the total count. In the governorates, there are 195 cases in Al Jahra, 180 in Al Ahmadi, 120 in Al Farwaniya, 81 in Hawally, and 65 in the Capital. Among the residential areas, Qaser is the highest with 36 cases.

Currently, there are 8,191 cases as it increased from 8,084 cases of the previous report. Compared to yesterday’s report, the new number of cases decreased.

Service for Individuals with Disabilities

 Following the decisions taken by the Kuwait cabinet, the authorities directed a team that will handle all the requests for the disabled persons. Therefore, the Public Authority of the Disabled (PADA) announced to the public of their continuous service to disabled individuals. They are tasked to serve and respond to people with disabilities as one of the preventative measures against the coronavirus disease. 

According to the Head of PADA’s Information Systems Division, Eng, Amena Safar, the government designated an official email account in which PADA’s services will be accessible. She advised all the applicants to visit their official website online@pada.gov.kw. They can also access other links such as ask.pay@pada.gov.kw and ask.certificate@pada.gov.kw for further information on their guidelines and services.

Resumption of Publishing Newspapers

 The Kuwait Cabinet held its weekly session today, led by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. They decided the resumption of publishing of hard copies of the newspapers on Tuesday of June 23, 2020. It will be distributed to the community tomorrow. It is good that the Kuwait government resumed its services after it was banned last May 10, 2020.

Urging the Resumption of Taxi Services in Phase Two

While the health crisis continues, MP Adel Al-Damkhi urged the Kuwait government to resume taxi services in Phase two of the government’s plan to return to normalcy. It is because the suspension of the taxis further encouraged private vehicles to load passengers. In this way, they would violate the implemented guidelines of the Kuwait government. As the second phase hopefully begins, the opening of the commercial markets and complexes will likely demand the provision of transportation service.

The resumption of taxi services will be a great help for the citizens and residents who rely on public transportations. Since the suspension of taxi services, it is becoming hard for many individuals to go to their destinations. I will agree with its opening. However, precautions must be practiced to prevent further outbreak because of its resumption.

Efforts of the Interior Ministry

As the implemented Phase One continues, the Ministry of Interior officially launched a new appointment system for the community. On their official website, one can send his or her application for travel. They can access their website through here www.moi.gov.kw.

A posted video shows the officials of the Ministry of Interior stating a message to the public. According to Brigadier General Tawheed Al-Kandari, the Interior Ministry will intervene if the people’s morals have deviated. I am relieved that the Ministry of Interior is dedicated to protecting the morals of the public. 

 As part of the preventative measures against the coronavirus pandemic, the Interior Ministry’s security officials conducted their checkpoints in the Chalet areas. It is to prevent any individuals from violating the implemented guidelines of the Kuwait government. 

I commend the valiant efforts of the Interior Ministry in ensuring peace and order within the community. They stringently followed all the implemented guidelines of the Kuwait government in protecting the health of the public.

COVID-19 Situation in Kuwait

The authorities recorded in Farwaniya that one of the barricades set for isolation protocols was moved. It is suspected that individuals moved the fence to escape from the isolated areas. However, this act violates the isolation protocols implemented by the Kuwait government.

 I am disappointed with the individuals who may have escaped through these barricades. If their suspicions are correct, then we must encourage all the citizens and residents to abide by the implemented protocols stringently. I know that it is challenging to live within the isolated areas due to the “No Work, No Pay” situation. However, isolation is our only hope against the spread of the coronavirus disease. 

On the other hand, a posted photo shows the Kuwait volunteers conducting sterilization in the Doha Port. I appreciate the hard works of the volunteers in keeping the public places clean and free from any transmission of coronavirus.

The Kuwait College of Life and Sciences show another generous act to its security employees. They conducted food distribution to them as a part of their appreciation for their unceasing service. I am grateful for their generosity in providing food packages to their employees. It is a great help for their daily meals for their families.

The situation in the Cooperative Societies and Shops

 Following the implemented guidelines against coronavirus, the Director of General of the Municipality officially issued their administrative decision about the time of closure among the shops in Kuwait. It entails that the operations of shops will start from 6:00 am to 6:30 pm under the imposed curfew of the authorities. 

In the Saad Al-Abdullah Cooperative Society of Block 10, three of their employees tested positive of coronavirus infection. To keep the cooperative societies safe from any coronavirus transmission, further identification must be conducted. Therefore, the Kuwait health authorities did swab testing to 100 employees of the Hadiya Cooperative Society.

Death of Another Filipino Hero

It is with a heavy heart to know that another Filipino hero in Kuwait succumbed to Coronavirus infection. The Filipino Nurse Ameil Yanuario passed away during his treatment in the intensive care unit. At the age of 28, he showed his dedication and valiant heroism as one of the fronltiners in Kuwait’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic. I would extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and friends. I give my salute to him for his sacrifices as a medical frontliner.

Today marks the 23^rd day of the government’s implemented first phase plan. The Kuwait government continues its long battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Further policies were implemented to ensure the containment of its transmission. For that, I am very thankful to all the hardships of our medical frontliners and the efforts of the authorities in this health crisis. 

Public Advisory of the New Online Appointment Priority System

 In Kuwait, the Philippine Embassy released another public advisory about the online appointment priority system for the Filipinos with expiring visas or passports. In the advisory, the Embassy expressed their gratitude for their continuous suggestions and comments on how the passport application and renewal should be implemented.

 Some Filipino applicants need to renew their residence visas in the country. For them to secure their appointment for renewal of passport, the Embassy officially launched its Online Appointment Priority System. It can be accessed through click here.

The Online Appointment Priority System Form can help the Embassy gather information on the expiry dates of visa and passport. It will give the opportunity to prioritize those individuals whose passports have expired or will soon expire. They reminded the applicants that filling out the online form has no finance charges or payments. The Embassy will also keep the gather information as confidential.

 Putting one’s details in the online form does not ensure an immediate appointment slot for the passport applicant. However, the Embassy will reserve the appointment slots to the applicants with expired passports or are about to expire. If confirmed, then they will send a notification to the applicant establishing his or her appointment schedule. 

For the applicants with confirmed appointments, they must note all the following reminders provided by the Embassy.

1. They must fill out their Passport Application form in advance. It can be downloaded through this link. Click here.
2. They must bring their completed application form and copies of their current passport and Civil I.D. on their designated time and date of their appointment.
3. They must bring the requirements for the application and renewal of passports. To check the list of requirements, click here.
4. They must prepare the specific amount intended for their processing. For passport application or renewal, it is KD19.500, while KD26.000 is the amount for passport renewal with passport validity extension.

Lastly, the Embassy reminds the public that they will accept responses in the implemented system from 8:00 pm of June 22, 2020 until 11:59 pm on June 24, 2020. After processing all the applications that the office will receive within this week, the online system will be reopened for more applicants.

Keeping the Stringency of the Implemented Measures in the Philippines

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported the high spike of reported cases as 2,160 new COVID-19 cases of the Overseas Filipinos abroad were registered. Together with it are ten additional deaths and 2,193 recoveries. It brings to a total record of 8,301 cases with 506 fatalities and 5,055 recovered cases. Among the newly reported infections, the majority of them came from the Middle East and Europe. The sudden increase is due to the accumulated late reports of the COVID-19 cases in the Middle East. The region is currently observing strict confidentiality with its privacy. Therefore, it leads to the 35 percent increase of recoveries, 6 percent decrease of deaths, and a 76 percent increase of confirmed cases.

 Recently, it has been reported that several Filipino Workers are currently scavenging for food due to the ongoing “No Work, No Pay” situation in the country. The posted videos, which went viral, showed the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) circumstances in Riyadh. They have a critical situation where they are having difficulty in acquiring food.

However, a miracle arrived as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced the two companies’ volunteer acts. These two firms will shoulder all the travel costs of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia for their repatriation.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) visited the workers as they were informed about the agreement of repatriating them back to the country. The two firms were Aero Allied Services, who will shoulder those works which have unfinished contracts and the Team Time Company, who will pay for those with finished contracts. However, the repatriation will depend on the availability of flights with the implemented restrictions of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). 

 Despite the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines, the Philippine government decided to allow the operations of public transportation gradually. The authorities permitted 300 modern jeepneys to resume its service on the roads of Metro Manila. However, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed to all the commuters not to be too complacent.

Everyone must be vigilant and continue to follow the health protocols strictly. Physical distancing and wearing of facemasks must be practiced to not put the efforts of the Philippine government in vain of controlling the pandemic. 

“At mangyayari na bago sila magsitawag, sasagot ako; at samantalang sila’y nagsasalita, aking didinggin.”

Isaias 65:24

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A multi-award-winning blogger and advocate for OFWs and investment literacy; recipient of the Mass Media Advocacy Award, Philippine Expat Blog Award, and Most Outstanding Balikbayan Award. Her first book, The Global Filipino Bloggers OFW Edition, was launched at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. A certified Registered Financial Planner of the Philippines specializing in the Stock Market. A recognized author of the National Book Development Board of the Philippines. Co-founder of Teachers Specialist Organization in Kuwait (TSOK) and Filipino Bloggers in Kuwait (FBK). An international member of writing and poetry. Published more than 10 books.  Read more: About DiaryNiGracia