Covid 19: Oman imposes restrictions on all commercial activities

Oman to impose a partial curfew on all commercial activities from Thursday (March 4) amidst efforts to contain the pandemic. The Supreme Committee of Oman has ordered every commercial outlet across all provinces of the sultanate to remain closed between 8 PM and 5 AM, which will be effective until March 20, state-run ONA reported on Monday.

However, gas stations, health institutions and private pharmacies are exempted from the ban. The coronavirus restrictions include the closure of restaurants and cafés within tourist facilities as well as home delivery services. The committee also announced extension of distance learning for public schools for another week, from March 7 to March 11.

The Committee urged all residents to adhere to the precautionary measures so as to control the spread of the pandemic in the Sultanate. The Gulf state also confirmed the discovery of the mutated strains of the coronavirus, including the South African strain, in the country on Monday.

"The data revealed an alarming increase in the number of travel-related cases, especially in light of the global spread of the disease in the countries of departure and the lack of data on the situation, especially the new strains, in a number of others," the statement noted.

Earlier, Oman had imposed a 15-day entry ban on residents or any transited passengers from 10 countries such as Sudan, Lebanon, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia, within 14 days on arrival.