Muscat: Oman has recorded a single day increase of more than 1,000 cases for two consecutive days, pointing to an increase in infection numbers compared to last week.
The total number of COVID-19 infections on June 1 stood at 218,271, which is 1,047 more infections than on 31 May, where infection numbers were at 217,224, an increase of another 1,041 cases, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
Compared to the weekend, where a total of 2,399 cases were reported between Thursday, May 27 and Saturday, May 29, or an average of nearly 800 cases a day, the numbers of new infections seen since then are significantly higher.
The recovery rate as of June 1, 2021, stood at 91.8 per cent, accounting for 200,421 people being cured from the virus. 2,356 people have sadly died from the disease.
About 257 patients in total have been admitted to intensive care, and some 802 patients are currently in hospital for the coronavirus. Of these, 97 people were admitted in the 24 hours leading up to June 1.
As part of its efforts to provide quality health services to people in the country, and make future plans for healthcare, a workshop was held on Sunday by the Ministry of Health’s Directorate General of Planning and Studies.
“The workshop was held to review the planning criteria of health services, which is one of the strategic programs for healthcare under Oman Vision 2040,” said the ministry in a statement.
“The goals of planning criteria include achieving balanced health services with specific criteria throughout the country, to achieve overall health coverage.”
Also discussed at the workshop were the steps needed to be taken by the relevant authorities to plan and develop future healthcare facilities. These also include coming up with planning standards, and making sure these can be met, so that adequate and efficient services are available to all.
Among the issues discussed were the possibility of “adding virtual services, and expanding services so that they meet the standards issued, as well as making sure future services that are part of the ministry’s plans also serve to meet the needs of people,” added the ministry.