Highlights from the Supreme Committee’s COVID-19 Press Conference

Merge 104.8  |  15 November 2021

The Supreme Committee held a press conference today to discuss the latest COVID-19 developments in the country. Here are the highlights of that meeting:

  • Oman’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed al Saidi, took the third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Oman’s Ministry of Health recorded 8 new Coronavirus cases, 13 new recoveries and no deaths.
  • The Minister of Health explained that the third shot of the Coronavirus vaccine is not the same as a “booster” shot.
  • Oman’s health sector was on the verge of collapse during the last COVID-19 wave, and Oman, as well as other countries, do fear the onset of a new wave, as vaccination alone is not enough. The Supreme Committee will be monitoring the situation, and it will announce measures against those who violate rules pertaining to requiring a COVID vaccine upon entry to public places.
  • Social distancing will continue to be observed in mosques, as there is no way to ensure that worshippers have been vaccinated upon entry.
  • The Supreme Committee’s decision to ban gatherings is still valid.
  • The Minister of Health said that the Supreme Committee hopes to avoid further closures and lockdowns, and he urged people to continue to take the necessary preventative measures.
  • A Consultant at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Amal Saif Al Maani, said that there has been a steady increase in influenza cases, especially influenza (A). She added that a number of deaths have been reported from the influenza.
  • The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education have formed a working group, in order to monitor and implement vaccination in the educational sector.
  • The Ministry of Health may return to classifying countries using the Red/Green/Yellow method, if needed, due to the fact that the Delta variant of the Coronavirus has now spread globally.
  • The Supreme Committee is not planning to close airports or stop flights to Oman from any destination for now.
  • Oman requested for GCC citizens to be exempted from PCR requirements at the last GCC meeting that was held in Bahrain, but no decision has been made in regards to that request so far.
  • All third doses given in Oman, will be of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, regardless of what vaccination was taken in the past.
  • The government is following up on requests to reduce the price of PCR tests in the country.
  • Any person who is infected with COVID-19 upon entry to Oman, will be required to isolate for 10 days.
  • Specialists confirmed that there are no side complications from children wearing masks.