CORONAVIRUS DIARIES Week #26: Facing New Beginnings amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

-William Faulkner-

 

Today marks the 187th day of our COVID-19 Pandemic journey. Facing new beginnings may seem to be challenging at first glance. We need to endure all hardships and trials we’ve faced all our life. It takes a lot of courage to face new beginnings, to embrace what’s on the table right now, adapt to it, and live with it. The COVID-19 Pandemic taught us to have this courage to survive and embrace the new normal, for us to have a normal life once the Pandemic ended.

The COVID-19 Pandemic is not yet ended. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health is continuously monitoring developments on their COVID-19 case bulletin. The MoH dedicate their time to closely monitor the data in order to formulate policies to be adopted by the public for their safety. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health is closely monitoring its COVID-19 cases bulletin and reports to the public for transparency. 

Update of COVID-19 Cases in Kuwait as of September 14, 2020

The photo was taken from: Instagram: Kuwait MOH

 

The Kuwait Ministry of Health (MoH) announced seven hundred and eight (708) new cases. This brings to the total of 95,472 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The MoH also reported 3 new COVID-19 fatalities bringing to a total of 563 deaths. However, The MoH positively reported that there are 508 new recoveries from COVID-19. This brings to a total of 85,501 COVID-19 recoveries. As of today’s date, there are 9,408 total active cases in the country and, still hopeful that they will survive their battle to COVID-19.

 

Use of Mobile Civil ID to enter Kuwait

For those expatriates who wish to enter the State of Kuwait, they can now use their Mobile Civil ID. This was confirmed by the Public Authority for Civil Information with proper coordination with the foreign, interior, and civil aviation ministries in this regard.

Mobile Civil ID can be generated from Kuwait Mobile ID App provided by the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI). This offers citizens and residents of the State of Kuwait a digital ID that can be used for various purposes.

The expatriates can use the Mobile Civil ID as proof for residency permits when traveling. The relevant Kuwait authorities allow the use of the Mobile Civil ID on the ports, airlines, tourism and travel offices, and airports.

Kuwait Mobile ID

The photo was taken from: Twitter: Kuwait DGCA

 

127,000 Stranded Expatriates abroad might lose their residency permits

Expatriates

The photo was taken from: arabnews.com

 

The Interior Ministry of Kuwait reported that 127,000 stranded expatriates failed to renew their residence permits due to the COVID-19. Expatriates and their sponsors should be held responsible for renewing the said residency permit. Fortunately, the Interior Ministry gave them a chance to renew their residence permits considering all legal and humanitarian aspects.

Most expatriates who failed to renew their iqamats are now stranded abroad due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. Even the Interior Ministry crafted and offered online facilities to renew their iqamats, many of them have not made use of the facilities.

It saddens me so much to hear that some fellow Filipinos stranded abroad were unable to renew their iqamats. The Interior Ministry of Kuwait should extend its consideration regarding the iqamat renewal. The Pandemic played a huge role in their loss of residency permit. The Interior Ministry should make more accessible the online facilities for iqamat renewal and gave more time to comply with the requirements. 

 

Bienvenido Espino, serving a life sentence for murder walks free

Bienvenido Espino, an expatriate in Kuwait, who was sentenced to death last 2008 for killing his Filipina partner is now back in the Philippines. Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah granted Espino pardon and now walks free after 13 years. Along with Espino, other Filipino detainees at the Sulaibayan Central Jail were granted a pardon by the Amir of Kuwait. Consul General Lomondot thanked The Amir of Kuwait for granting clemency to Espino and other Filipino detainees.

Bienvenido Espino and fellow Filipino detainees are ready to face their new beginnings in the Philippines. Consul General Lomondot stated in a press statement, “I hope that OFW Espino will carry with him the experiences and lessons of the past as he starts a new life in the Philippines. I wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Espino’s granted pardon made me realized that even we are facing pandemic, the room for forgiveness is not closed. Forgiveness sets us free. With the second chance granted in our life, we should use it for the best as we have new beginnings in our journey towards a new life.

Consul General Lomondot (L) and Bienvenido Espino (R)

This photo was taken from: ABS-CBN News

 

New Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait

Former Consul General Mohd. Noordin Pendosina Lomondot faces his new beginnings as he took an oath of office as Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait. Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. administered the oath of office of Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Lomondot at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City, Philippines.

DFA Secretary Locsin (L) administering the oath of office of the new PH Ambassador to Kuwait Lomondot (R)

This photo was taken from: Facebook: Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

 

Filipino expatriates in Kuwait welcomed Lomondot as the newly confirmed Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait. I hope that the new Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait will fulfill his duties and listen to the concerns of Filipino expatriates in Kuwait.

With the recent appointment of Ambassador Lomondot, I am hopeful that he will fulfill his duties and serve with all his heart for his fellow Filipinos in Kuwait. His recent appointment made me realized that at some point in our lives, we are chosen. We are chosen to embark on a new journey that will help us nurture more as we experienced new lessons. Facing a new journey requires a lot of courage to do so. I commend the courage of Ambassador Lomondot in embarking on his new journey as the newly appointed PH Ambassador to Kuwait.

 

New Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot

This photo was taken from: Facebook: Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

 

Updates from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait announced the resumption of Report of Birth and Passport Releasing-Only operations on 20-22 September 2020. In lieu of this, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait announced the suspension of passport and other non-passport services to give way to Report of Birth and Passport Releasing-Only operations. To avail the following services, accommodations are strictly done by appointment.

Report of Birth and Passport Releasing-Only operations on 20-22 September 2020

This photo was taken from: Facebook: Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

 

On 18 September 2020, Philippine Embassy in Kuwait released a list of Report of Birth Appointments for the date 20 September to 06 October 2020. Here’s the list of requirements (https://bit.ly/38ILoPZ) and the date and time of the Report of Birth Appointment. Check out the list below to see if your name is included in the list.

Report of Birth Appointment for the date 20 September to 06 October 2020

These photos were taken from: Facebook: Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

 

The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait also issued another list for those Filipino expatriates who have passport appointments for the date 23-24 September 2020. You may check the list of requirements (https://bit.ly/KuwaitPEConsularServices) for passport application or renewal. 

Online Passport Appointment and Limited Walk-in Application for the date 23-24 September 2020

To access the list, click this link https://bit.ly/2OG0sGQ

 

For those who are not on the list, please wait for further updates on the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Facebook page for another list of passport appointments. The walk-in passport application is still not allowed by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.

Also, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait issued another list of names for those Filipino expatriates who need to come back to the office for passport photos and fingerprints. Included in the list are those Filipino expatriates who have scheduled appointments on 01-02 October 2020. The said scheduled appointment will be from 03-04 October 2020. For those who are not on the list, please wait for further updates on Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Facebook page

 

List of names with an appointment to avail Passport Extensions for the date 03-04 October 2020

To access the list, click this link https://bit.ly/3ciSrj5

 

Overall, Kuwait has a total tally of 95,472 COVID-19 cases, while the Philippines have 265,888 cases. Both countries are adhering to and enforcing health protocols to prevent each one of its citizens and residents to contract COVID-19. The situation at today’s time will be our new normal of living. Health protocols imposed will be our new normal. The COVID-19 Pandemic taught each one of us to face new beginnings with courage and be flexible enough to adapt to the new normal. 

Both Espino and PH Ambassador Lomondot face their new beginnings in life as they embark on their journey. Espino bravely faces his new beginnings as he was sent off to the Philippines to start his life again. Also, PH Ambassador Lomondot courageously faces his new life as he will fulfill his duties as ambassador.

All of us deserve second chances in life. These second chances must be utilized to have fresh beginnings in life. We should always have in our back the lessons learned from our past journey. As COVID-19 Pandemic taught so many things about life, we can fully utilize these lessons for us to have more new beginnings in life.

 

Potential treatment for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19

A drugmaker, Eli Lilly, enthusiastically announces that their antibody treatment was shown to significantly lower levels of the coronavirus in newly infected patients. Medical scientists used blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors, isolating, and testing their antibodies to find the most powerful ones. Eli Lilly then used the blood plasma to create vats of antibodies into a drug. Those who received the drug blood plasma reportedly fewer COVID-19 symptoms and lower levels of coronavirus.

As we wait for the COVID-19 vaccine to be developed, it is groundbreaking that blood plasma can be used as a treatment for mild or moderate COVID-19 cases. With these groundbreaking findings, the COVID-19 patients will treat this as a hope that they can still face their new beginnings after they survive the battle against COVID-19.

Blood Plasma in Vials

This photo was taken from: STAT News

 

 

MUST-READ AND SHARE!

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CORONAVIRUS DIARIES: Week #25 – The Importance of Compliance to Health Protocols

 

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