Night lockdown begins in Oman

Muscat: Shops closed early and people made sure they reached home by 8 pm, as Oman’s lockdown came into effect on Sunday evening.

During the lockdown, brought in to stop the spread of COVID-19, and is likely to run until Thursday, April 8, people are banned from leaving their homes, and vehicles are not permitted to travel on roads between 8 pm and 5 am.

“I ask the owners of companies and shops in the country to close early, and allow their employees to leave sufficient time to reach their homes by 8 pm,” said Brigadier General Mohammed bin Nasser Al Kindi, Director General of Operations, Royal Oman Police.

 “Citizens and residents must finish their work before the movement ban comes into effect.

“Incidents of violating these rules will be registered against those who do so,” he added. “The movement ban is designed to prevent people from leaving their homes under any means.”

The ROP also asked people in the country to alert them regarding incidents of people not following the rules of the Supreme Committee to deal with COVID-19.

The operations centre of the ROP can be reached by calling 1099. The centre has been tasked with following round-the-clock coronavirus-related developments in the country. There are, however, certain exceptions to the movement ban, according to Brig. Gen. Al Kindi.

“To make sure that basic services are not affected during the time that movement is not permitted, and businesses are closed, emergency vehicles involved in the maintenance of electricity, water, and communication networks, cleaning and sanitation teams, ambulances, and trucks heavier than three tonnes will be permitted to travel outdoors,” he said.

ROP-manned checkpoints will be set up across the country, and patrols will be out on the streets to make sure the decisions of the Supreme Committee are observed. Aerial surveillance teams will also be monitoring the country from the skies, to make sure people maintain social distancing, and do not gather in large numbers.

“Employees in the country’s airports, refineries, and ports, medical staff and health workers are also permitted to move outside,” said Al Kindi.

“Travellers arriving to and departing from the Sultanate can also leave their homes during this period, along with a single person to accompany them, provided they are carrying the necessary travel documents.”

This extends to media professionals whose nature of job requires them to stay at work, teams from the Relief and Shelter Sector in the governorates, and imams from mosques.