Monday 28 / April / 2025
Muscat: To contain the spreading of the coronavirus in the country, government bodies of the Sultanate of Oman have put in place enhanced preventive measures and restrictions.
Also read: Travel sector hit as COVID-19 spreads
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health (MoH) announced that all travellers coming from Egypt will be quarantined. According to the officials at the Ministry, either institutional or home quarantine will be enforced upon travellers coming from Egypt. “Based on the global and regional developments of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), institutional or home quarantine will be enforced upon all travellers coming from Egypt from the date of issuance of this statement. All travellers coming from Egypt in the last 14-day period should call the contact centre of the Ministry of Health in case of any respiratory symptoms,” the officials said.
Read here: Guidelines for COVID-19 home quarantine issued in Oman
The MoH had announced the registration of 16 COVID-19 cases related to travels from Iran and Italy, two of whom have recovered totally. In cooperation with other concerned sectors the MoH is taking a number of preventive measures at various points of entry (air, sea and land) and screening the travellers coming from endemic countries.
On Sunday health officials, in the presence of HE Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al Hosni, Undersecretary of Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, held an emergency meeting with the undersecretaries of the concerned ministries to brief them about the latest developments in COVID-19.
The officials noted that “a self-declaration form is being distributed to the travellers coming through different points of entry. It contains information about the date of travel, respiratory symptoms, as well as the health check-ups for those coming from the endemic countries whether directly or transiting in these countries within the last 14-day from the date of their arrival.”
“Furthermore, the passengers arriving to Oman and suspected of being infected with this disease are being referred to the health institutions for the laboratory examination and are receiving the required healthcare service in accordance with all the infection control procedures,” they added.
The Ministry has urged all quarantined persons to adhere to the quarantine instructions and to protect their family and community from this disease and keep washing hands with water and soap, avoid touching their face, mouth and eyes with dirty hands, and stick to healthy habits when coughing and sneezing.
Meanwhile the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) had announced the cancellation of all events scheduled for March and April. The officials at the ROHM said that this has been done due to the public health and travel measures put in place to address the threat of coronavirus. All guided tours at the ROHM and the House of Musical Arts will also be cancelled until further notice.
The Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) also announced that chartered flights between the Sultanate and the Arab Republic of Egypt have been suspended for a month starting from Sunday, March 8.
In response to the latest developments in the COVID-19 outbreak around the world, Emirates is taking extra steps by implementing enhanced cleaning and complete disinfection of all cabins as a precaution.
The airline is using an approved chemical that is proven to kill viruses and germs, leaves a long-lasting protective coating against new contamination of viruses, bacteria and fungi on surfaces, and is eco-friendly.
The cleaning process includes a comprehensive wipe down of all surfaces – from windows, tray tables, seatback screens, armrests, seats, in-seat controls, panels, air vents and overhead lockers in the cabin, to lavatories, galleys and crew rest areas. All of this is done in addition to other normal procedures such as changing head rest covers on all seats, replacement of reading materials, vacuuming, and more.
