Coronavirus: Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues statement

Muscat: The Supreme Committee formed by the government to deal with the developments taking place due to the coronavirus (COVID-19)held its meeting ‪and has taken a number of significant temporary decisions to tackle the spread of the virus that is now declared as “Pandemic” by the World Health Organization.

This is part of the efforts being made by all countries of the world to safeguard their citizens, residents and tourists. These are the decisions taken by the committee.

• Issuing of tourism visa would remain suspended for 30 days with effect ‪from March 15‬

• Tourism Cruise ships would not be docked at the parts of the Sultanate of Oman for 30 days with effect ‪from March 15‬

• All sports activities would also remain suspended for 30 days beginning with ‪March 15‬

Among the major decisions taken by the Supreme Committee, which will come into effect ‪from March 15‬ for a period of 30 days, was that the tourism visas for arrival to the Sultanate of Oman from any countries will be stopped, any Cruise ships would be able to enter to the Sultanate and all sorts of sports activities would be stopped.

Therefore, with effect ‪from March 15 , 2020 , Sunday‬ , for 30 days , no tourism visas will be issued from any of the land, Sea of air corridors .

The order is same for electronically issued visas, visas on arrival. However, tourists who have valid visas that was issued can enter the country but will have to fulfil the requirements of medical tests and examinations to confirm that they are not positive to the coronavirus and also they should not have travelled to the five countries on which an embargo is declared.

The Sultanate has already announced that it was restricting entry of travelers from five countries, China , South Korea , Italy and Egypt .

In addition to this, all local, regional and international sports of all types as well as conferences, meetings, seminars and tournaments will remain suspended during this period.

These decisions and measures were taken as part of international efforts to deal with the situation arising due to the Corona virus and reduce its further outbreak.