Oman extends covid-related restrictions, bans flights from UK

Oman to suspend flights from UK and will continue the partial curfew for another two weeks, state-run news agency ONA reported. The Supreme Committee has announced various other preventive measures amidst an alarming surge of travel-related infections from some countries.

The sultanate had earlier announced the night curfew, effective from 8PM to 5AM, demanding closure of all commercial outlets from March 4 to 20, which is now extended until April 3. However, an exemption from the curfew includes fuel stations, health establishments, private pharmacies, tire sale and maintenance outlets inside fuel stations and food deliveries.

It is permitted to use of beaches for the purpose of exercises and individual sports, however, strictly prohibiting any social gatherings. The night curfew excludes freight, shipping and operation of factories without receiving customers while restaurants, cafes, mobile cafes and authorized street vendors are allowed to do drive-through service.

The committee also decided to impose a ban on all direct flights from the UK, effective from 12 pm, 19 March and continues until further notice. Nationals are exempted from the ban.

The Sultanate will also trim 70 percent of employees' attendance in State's Administrative Apparatus and other legal entities from March 21 until April 1, ONA noted.

The Supreme Committee, chaired by Interior Minister Hamoud Faisal al-Busaidi, urged all departments to continue to take precautionary measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The Oman Ministry of Health has registered 548, bringing the total cases to 148,558. The total number of recoveries stood at 137,544 with 516 more people recovered from the pandemic.