Oman to reimpose nationwide lockdown to contain spread of Covid-19

Oman has decided to reimpose a nationwide lockdown that will last for two weeks from July 25 until August 8 to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

The decision to close all the governorates within the sultanate was taken by the Supreme Committee at a meeting chaired by Hammoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, the country’s interior minister, reported Times of Oman.

Accordingly, the movement of all people will be restricted and all public places and shops will be shut from 7pm-6am daily.

There will be intensified patrolling, with checkpoints set up during the daytime too.

Also, gatherings of any kinds, especially for Eid prayers and traditional Eid markets and social assemblies to celebrate Eid will also be prohibited.

The decision came on the same day that the country’s Ministry of Health said that 1,487 new Covid-19 cases were reported over the preceding 24 hours, of which 1,159 were Omanis.

A total of 69,887 people have been infected with the virus in Oman.

The ministry also said that there were 11 new deaths, raising the overall death toll to 337.

Read: GCC Covid-19 update: UAE registers 305 cases; 1,487 infections recorded in Oman