Oman sets September 30 deadline for employees to get fully jabbed

Muscat: Employees working in government organisations and private companies have until September 30 to get themselves fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Oman’s Government Communications Centre has said.

Similarly, customers and visitors to these establishments have until October 14 to get fully jabbed against the disease, after which they will not be allowed onto the premises.

“The last day for employees working in government institutions and private sector facilities who have been vaccinated with only a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine to enter the facilities has been extended until September 30,” explained the GC.

“For customers and visitors who are vaccinated with a single dose to enter government offices and private sector facilities, and for public transport users, the deadline is extended until October 14, 2021,” the GC said in a statement.

Since September 1, entry to offices in Oman, as well as public places such as restaurants, hotels, shops and malls, is dependent on proof of vaccine being shown to staff at these locations.

Nearly 1.4 million people in Oman, or 31 per cent of the population, has been fully vaccinated, as of Thursday, 2 September, according to the Ministry of Health’s Tarassud COVID-19 monitoring app.

Close to four million vaccine doses have been administered to people.

Thursday also saw a further 73 people test positive for COVID-19, bringing the number of people currently infected with the disease to 6,216. Of the 302,466 people who have tested positive in Oman since the start of the pandemic, 292,180 have recovered, reflecting a recovery rate of 96.59 per cent.

Sadly, 4,070 people have died from the coronavirus, while some 571,472 tests have been conducted across the country. The majority of positive results were seen in men, who accounted for 211,547 confirmed infections. Slightly more Omanis (165,613) have caught the disease, compared to expatriates (136,653).