COVID-19 Live: “We are still in the first wave,” says Oman’s Minister of Health

Merge 104.8  |  10 September 2020

Speaking this morning [Thursday, September 10] at the 15th press conference of the Supreme Committee for COVID-19, committee members noted the following points:

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Saeedi
Minister of Health

— We have to think about our children, health workers, and especially the supervisors of hospitalization wards for those infected with COVID-19. Those who are wearing protective clothing and masks for eight hours straight and, if this epidemic continues, they will become more tired.

— In the Sultanate, we are still in the first wave. Our numbers decreased in the last period, but they increased in the recent period.

— The second wave in most countries is inevitable, and the matter is related to all of us. If we commit ourselves we will avoid the second wave, and if responsibility increases, we will avoid increasing numbers.

— Oman has communicated with all the advanced companies in the field of vaccine manufacturing. Hopefully, a vaccine will be available before the end of this year.

H.E. Dr. Madiha Ahmed Al Shaibani
Minister of Education

— 97 schools will operate at full capacity, and these are the schools that fall outside the scope of Internet coverage.

— Wearing face-masks will not be compulsory for students in Grades 1-4.

— There is a need for a new health protocol to have a distance of one-and-a-half metres between students in the classrooms.

— The maximum number of students per class is 16, which is half the average number in a classroom.

— There will be no school lunch breaks in the traditional sense, though there may be distribution of food within the classroom allowed, to ensure that physical distancing is maintained.

— If a child develops any COVID-19 symptoms, parents should report it immediately to the school.