COVID-19 Live: Muttrah lockdown to be lifted Saturday, says Minister of Health

Merge 104.8  |  04 June 2020

Oman’s Supreme Committee for COVID-19 has announced during its ninth press conference held today [Thursday, June 4], that the lockdown will be lifted in most areas of Muttrah Wilayat as of Saturday, June 6.

Speaking at the briefing were:

His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Saeedi
Minister of Health
His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Shuhi
Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources
Dr. Saif bin Salim Al Abri
Director General of Disease Surveillance and Control, Ministry of Health
Dr. Frial bint Ali Al Lawati
Sr. Consultant & Head of Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health

Touching on developments amid the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the Sultanate, Supreme Committee members noted the following:

His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al Saeedi

The lockdown in most areas of Muttrah Wilayat will be lifted by Saturday, June 6 as residents have complied with health isolation measures.

Since the lockdown began on April 1, health authorities have seen an improvement in numbers of cases, though the Hamriya and Old Muttrah Souq areas will still remain under isolation.

Permitted commercial activities will be allowed to operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Muttrah.

Taxis will still be prohibited from operating in Muttrah and businesses in the Wadi Kabir Industrial Area will still remain closed.

There have been 778 new cases of COVID-19 registered in Oman today [Thursday, June 4], of which 265 are Omanis. The total number of cases in the country now stands at 14,316.

Thus far there have been 3,154 recoveries and 67 deaths from COVID-19.

226 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized in Oman, with 58 in intensive care. The total number of patients hospitalized since the beginning of the pandemic is 799, with 120 total in ICU. This means that only 1% of total cases in Oman were admitted to intensive care.

Reasons for the recent increase in numbers of cases in the country is that more tests are being conducted. Also, there was a negligence towards social distancing regulations by some people in the country during Eid and over the last two weeks of Ramadan.

Another reason for the increase in numbers of cases could also be related to the natural development of the virus.

Treatment and testing for COVID-19 for expats in Oman has and always will remain free of charge. No one has been asked or will ever be asked to pay a single riyal. All costs are paid through sponsors, the government, and insurance companies.

(Also read: Ministry of Tourism issues COVID-19 regulations for hotels in Oman.)