In this regard, the Kuwait Cabinet’s supreme committee for the coronavirus emergency agreed to impose institutional quarantine on some expatriates whose services are urgently needed in Kuwait on returning to the country, the report said quoting informed sources.

“The total number of expatriates approved to return and be quarantined at their own expense or the expense of the bodies they work for is initially 800,” the sources explained, noting that the second batch of 600 others is awaiting approval.

“The approved categories include doctors, judges, as well as maintenance experts and technical teams of the ministries of oil and electricity and water,” the sources highlighted.

The list does not include public school teachers, some of whom have been stuck abroad since Kuwait initially closed its airport over six months ago as a precaution against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in another development, Kuwait’s Ministry of Education said on Tuesday that its expat employees, including teachers and administrative staff who had left before March 12 and were unable to return due to the flights' ban, will be considered on leave and paid for the official days off and the work suspension period decided by the Cabinet.

However, in case the employees continue to be unable to return to Kuwait after work resumed in state departments, they may apply for an extra leave period within the maximum limit of 15 days, and do so by phone or any other means of communication.

“Otherwise, their employment will be deemed interrupted and they will not be paid for the interruption period,” the ministry said in a statement.