Oman to lockdown Muscat from April 10-22

Oman’s Supreme Committee has decided to lockdown the Governorate of Muscat through the activation of control checkpoints with effect from 10am on Friday, April 10 until 10 am on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, reported Times of Oman.

The committee which is tasked with implementing Covid-19 precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus within the country reportedly held a meeting at the country’s Interior Ministry yesterday under the chairmanship of Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior.

On Wednesday morning, Oman confirmed 48 new cases of the infection in the sultanate.

The country has until now reported 419 coronavirus infections, including two deaths.

There have also been 72 recoveries in the country.

Due to the increase of infections in different places in the sultanate, the Wilayat of Muttrah has been completely locked down since April 1, 2020.

The committee has also decided to suspend education in all schools and universities in the country until further notice while stressing on the activation of online learning modules for students.

The country has also been combatting the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 31, it instructed all state-run companies to reduce their operational and administrative expenses in 2020 by 10 per cent.

Read: Oman state companies told to pause capital outlays, cut expenses

It asked government-owned firms to stop the implementation of any new projects or capital spending for this year.

An ongoing oil price crisis which has seen oil prices been driven to record lows has also impacted its plans for growth. Oman already announced plans to reduce budget spending by 5 per cent as the health emergency and much lower crude prices hammer revenue.