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Merge 104.8 | 21 May 2020
Speaking at the eighth press conference of the Supreme Committee for COVID-19 held today [Thursday, May 21], His Excellency Nasir Al Sawaei, Public Prosecutor, has announced that gatherings in Oman will now be classified as any five people or more who do not share the same household. Alongside this, any group of people that includes more than one family will also be considered as a gathering.
Al Sawaei also confirmed that the Royal Oman Police (ROP) will be responsible for supervising all members of the public, as well as public and private companies to ensure adherence to regulations, and are given authority to enter offices and commercial premises to ensure that companies are in compliance with health and safety directives.
As per Al Sawaei, the ROP have been empowered to issue administrative fines towards all individuals and companies found in violation of Supreme Committee regulations, with monies received from all fines going towards the public fund to combat COVID-19 in Oman. The ROP has also been granted authority to detain violators for 48 hours, with the possibility of extending this period.
The list of administrative fines for non-compliance of COVID-19 health and safety directives are as follows:
1. Those who refuse to take a COVID-19 test will be issued a fine of OMR 200.
2. Those found in violation of, or non-compliance with, institutional or home quarantine directives, will be issued a fine of OMR 200.
3. Companies that do not comply to closing tourist attractions, gyms, wellness centres, or barbershops on their premises will be subject to a fine of OMR 3,000.
4. Those found inviting people for gatherings, including prayers, Eid celebrations, weddings, or funerals, will face a fine of OMR 1,500.
5. Those found participating in such gatherings will face a fine of OMR 100.
6. Those who do not comply with the compulsory use of face-masks in public places, in private or public institutions, and on public transportation will be issued a fine of OMR 20.
7. Companies that have been permitted by the Supreme Committee to carry out commercial activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are found to be in violation of health and safety protocols will be fined OMR 1,500 and face a one-month closure.
8. For COVID-19 patients who have been issued a tracking device, failure to use this device, or attempting to remove it or destroy it will carry a fine of OMR 300.
9. Any other violation not mentioned in the above list but found by the relevant authorities to be incurred, will carry a fine of OMR 100.
Also speaking at this morning’s press conference was Oman’s Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Saeedi, who confirmed that the Supreme Committee has observed curfew models applied in other countries and, after careful study, have concluded it not to be of great effect.
Dr. Al Saeedi also confirmed that 18 out of 25 patients with coronavirus in Oman who were treated with immune blood plasma donated by recovered patients, went on to make full recoveries themselves.
His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa Al Harthy, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed during proceedings that 2,500 migrant workers have been repatriated from Oman to India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and thanked the governments of each respective nation for helping to facilitate repatriation efforts — noting that Indian authorities have been utilizing Oman Air and SalamAir to operate flights, in addition to their own airlines.
(Also read: COVID-19: PACP cautions retailers in Oman against raising the price of face-masks.)
