Saturday 29 / June / 2024
Muscat: Intent on informing Omani nationals in South East Asia about the potential dangers of the novel coronavirus, the Sultanate’s diplomatic missions in Thailand and Singapore have issued updates on the preparations the two countries have made towards stopping the spread of the disease.
Thailand has reported 25 cases of coronavirus in the country, the Oman embassy in Bangkok said, urging its citizens to take necessary precautions while staying in the country. “The Thai authorities have raised the levels of preparedness and control to tackle the virus, after the World Health Organization declared it as a health emergency, while confirming that the risk of infection in Thailand is still very limited,” the Embassy of Oman in Thailand said in a statement. “The embassy urges Omani citizens to take caution and adhere to health instructions and precautionary measures such as wearing masks and avoiding standing or walking in crowded places.”
In addition, the Consulate of Oman in Singapore has said that the city-state had raised the emergency level in the island nation to orange, following the emergence of new cases of infection.
“The Singaporean government has announced that it has raised its response level to orange with regards to the novel coronavirus,” said the Consulate General. “The number of confirmed cases hit 33. The Consulate General calls on citizens visiting Singapore to take caution, wear masks, and avoid crowded places.”
Meanwhile, back home in the Sultanate, the Directorates-general of Health Services in both Muscat and Dhofar have organised meetings to deal with possible future coronavirus infections in Oman.
A statement from the Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS) in Muscat said, “Within the educational plan carried out in Muscat on the coronavirus, the latest developments were discussed with members of the health committee in Muscat, in the presence of the Deputy Governor of Muscat and the Shura Council representative of the State of Muscat, as well as sheikhs and elders of the governorate in order to educate and raise awareness about this disease.
“The DG of Health Services in Muscat will continue to conduct awareness campaigns about the disease at government institutions, schools, educational colleges, and through community members in the governorate of Muscat, within the plan developed through lectures and educational publications,” added the DGHS in Muscat. “This includes health institutions in Muscat as well. Over the course of the next week, there will be educational lecture on the coronavirus disease. This is part of our awareness plan.”
In the Dhofar region, Acting Director General Salem Al Shukaili chaired the third meeting of the epidemiological preparedness committee in the directorate to review and discuss what has been accomplished by the preparations and equipment in the specialised departments. “To ensure the provision of medical equipment and supplies and the readiness of medical teams to confront the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, an affirmation of the application of healthcare measures in emergency cases has been approved by the Ministry,” said the Directorate General of Health Services in Dhofar.
