Defcon 1 - Our COVID-19 journey

Kuwait, Bahrain announce first coronavirus cases

The cases originated from Iran. - 24/02/2020

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When the first case was announced, we had just landed in Dubai for 4 nights away during the Kuwait National Day celebration/holiday. There had been a few cases announced in the Gulf area, but overall, the risk was low and we needed to get our of Kuwait. While we were enjoying Duabi, the Kuwait government acted quickly to cancel all the national day celebrations(think July 4th). This was a bold move at the time. There were plenty of people that ignored the orders and gathered for celebrations, but the transition toward the COVID-19 reality was underway. 

While we were away, it was announced that we would be a 2 week break from school while the admin tried to figure out what was possible with the new, evolving governmental regulations. 

For the last day of our trip, we were growing concerned about travel as Dubai and Bahrain closed their airports to incoming traffic. Thankfully, we were able to travel back to Kuwait without issue(although, it sure would have been nice to be stranded in Dubai....)

On 11 March, Kuwaiti Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended all travel, except cargo flights, to and from Kuwait starting from 13 March, effectively locking down the nation until further notice. A public holiday was declared from 12 to 26 March, with work to resume on 29 March. Some shops were closed, and restrictions were placed on restaurants. 

Classes were suspended from 1 to 12 March, which was extended to 29 March, and later to 4 August.

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March 11 - 
This is when things really started getting interesting.  Public school was canceled until August for seniors, October for undergrads. This put our school on alert, wondering if we would be allowed to go forward with virtual school and finish this academic year. Suffice it to say, the prospect of trying to follow the Public School decision would be nearly impossible for a private school with 35% of the staff that cycles out each year. 
The days leading up to March 11 is when the first round of rumors were beginning to swirl. The neighborhood where we live was tense, there were lots of questions about if a lockdown would restrict things like grocery stores, etc. The initial announcement arrived around 8pm and at first read, it sounded like stores would be closing the next day. Although we had some food, I ventured out among the panicked crowds to stock up a bit more just in case. The scene was chaotic, tense and surreal as I stood  in line and saw the concern of immigrant workers who were not sure if their paychecks would keep coming. 

This was also when they announced the airport would be closing. There were some staff who saw this possibility coming and chose to return to their homes. Our contract includes travel to and from our homes each year, but those that chose to leave early did so at their own expense. Additionally, they would have to continue to teach remotely. We didn't see this as a realistic option so we hunkered down and began our partial lock down. 

Kuwait: Government implements nationwide curfew March 22

Nationwide curfew in effect as of March 22 due to COVID-19; follow authority directives

After closing most stores March 12 as part of the national holiday, they still noticed too many people going out. 

This change was not drastic, but it was another milestone in the journey. They initiated a curfew restricting people from going out from 5pm- 4am(later extending it to 6am). This was a big change for the Kuwaitis as they are much more mobile. We actually loved the curfew because it greatly lowered the noise level from the constant bus/truck traffic on our road outside the apartment. We would go for a walk right at 6am to get out in some "fresh air". They altered this curfew when Ramadan started. The basic tenet of Ramadan is to fast during the daylight hours, then "break" fast at sunset and eat/visit with family and friends. They altered the curfew to 4pm-8am once Ramadan started, trying to restrict people from their traditional Ramadan practices. One nice change was that they allowed the restaurants to deliver after the curfew :)

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An aerial view shows Kuwait City and the National Assembly Building (Kuwait Parliament), after the country entered virtual lockdown, as a preventive measure against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kuwait City. (Reuters

Kuwait: Jeleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Mahboula (Kuwait City) to be locked down over COVID-19 concerns for two weeks from April 6 (it continues to this day)

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This was when things got quite real. 

Just for reference - 

This is Kuwait, and we live in Mahboula(Red Pin) 

Closer look at the Neighborhood of Mahboula. Our apartments are the orange pin - Dina Dana Apartments. 

For additional context, you have to understand the makeup of our neighborhood. It has sprung up from nothing in the past decade as the need for cheap employee housing grew in Kuwait. Nearly 100% of Mahboula is apartment buildings for employee housing with a few buildings along the water for hotel/upscale apartments. 

Mahboula is not a nice place, and many of the buildings are overcrowded with immigrant laborers. 

all day, every day, white buses pick up and drop off laborers in Mahboula. 

So, introduce the COVID-19 virus in this environment and it didn't take long for Kuwait to realize that they needed to act. Their decision was literally to lock us all in. The installed fences and patrols to the 3 entry/exit points to Mahboula. No one in or out with out a permit(essentially only for emergencies, very difficult to qualify for). For us, this meant that we could not get in our car and go to the local grocery store to get the food we wanted. We had to rely on the few grocery stores within Mahboula, which of course, were essentially always crowded, long lines with immigrant laborers. It is not a comfortable situation, as many don't choose to wear masks or adhere to social distancing. 

The situation resembled the Hunger Games, so I made this...

For the most part, everything thus far has been an inconvenience but in the end of the day, we are safe, able to get enough food to live and working to finish the school year.  We had the opportunity to move from the second floor apartment up to the 13th floor. This has given us a perspective to watch Mahboula residents deal with the lockdown. There is a new school in our view that has been converted into a co-op and it is also the gas cylinder exchange place. Watching the crowds day in and day out has been very interesting/depressing/eye opening. 

nice view for sunrises :)

This is one of the days they were giving away food, but the supply ran out so the people from the back of the line came towards the trucks, flushed away with the police. 

Very happy with our new place.

Another day of food distribution - but once again, not enough for everyone. 

Then...the cases exploded. 

As of April 25, our highest daily new case total was 258. 

As you can see below, the last 10 days have exploded. 

Kuwait announces full curfew as other countries ease restrictions

Kuwait announced a "total curfew" will start Sunday to fight the coronavirus, but did not yet specify details.

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After repatriating 30,000 Kuwaitis from around the world back home, and with the cases exploding out of control, the country had no other option but to go to total lockdown. 

This rumor had been spreading for a few days, so we went out and stocked the fridge again. Then, with the official announcement, people freaked out here all over the country. Looking out or window, the situation got intense yesterday. 

Nice distancing....

In reading the articles and watching how everyone freaked out yesterday and today, when the lockdown starts this afternoon, I predict the cases will explode due to the crowding that the chaos brought on. 

So, here we are, Sunday, May 10. At 4pm today, here are the new rules - 

- You can only leave your house to go to get essential items once a week with an appointment at one of the co-ops. 

EXCEPT, everyone can go for a walk(no bikes) in their neighborhood from 4:30-6:30.

- All non-essential services are closed

- all food delivery is closed

-masks mandatory when you leave your house

Mahboula still is in lock down...

The good news, for anyone still reading is that the airport remains open and we have a flight back to Maine in a week...

Be well, hope to see you all soon :)