Oman: Mandatory institutional self-paid quarantine for all arrivals, new Covid-19 restrictions announced

Oman said on Wednesday that all arrivals to the country will be subject to a mandatory institutional quarantine, the cost of which will be borne by the passengers.

It did not specify the exact nature and the cost associated with the quarantine or even until when this directive will remain in effect. But it did say that the decision to impose institutional quarantine on all arrivals via its land, air and sea borders was “because many failed to adhere to home quarantine and breached previously approved procedures,” reported state-run Oman News Agency.

The country’s Supreme Committee tasked with handling Covid-19 added that the land borders of the sultanate will remain closed until further notice, except for the passage of trucks.

Omani citizens who are abroad and wish to return via these land borders have been given a 10-day grace period to do so, until 10am on Sunday, February 21, 2021, after which they too will not be allowed to enter until the land borders are reopened. These returning citizens too must undergo institutional health isolation at their own cost.

The committee advised all citizens and residents in Oman to avoid traveling abroad over the coming period, except in cases of extreme necessity.

In order to further contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the committee ruled that all commercial activities in North A’Sharqiyah Governorate will be kept closed from 7pm-6am starting from the evening of Friday, February 12, 2021, for a period of 14 days, with the exception of fuel filling stations, health establishments and private pharmacies.

Also, all beaches, leisure spaces and public parks in all governorates of the Sultanate will close from Thursday, February 11, 2021, for a period of two weeks.

It also upheld the ban on all gatherings, irrespective of whether it is held in “rest-houses, farms, winter camps, manor houses or elsewhere.” It recommended avoiding assembling of families within homes or other private places.

It also said that the number of visitors to government departments, private establishments, commercial centres, business outlets, marketplaces, restaurants, cafeterias, cafes serving shisha and indoor sports halls should be reduced by 50 per cent. The downsizing begins in the morning of Friday, February 12, 2021, and will continue till further notice.

On Wednesday, the country reported 190 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of infections up to 136,377. Earlier this week, officials had described the recent surge in cases as “alarming” while urging people to respect the Covid-19 precautionary measures.

Read: Oman says ‘alarming’ surge in Covid-19 cases, extends land border closure indefinitely