Manama : Oman decided to extend the ban on inbound travel from India and 14 other countries for an indefinite period to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
According to Oman News Agency (ONA), Supreme committee assigned to tackle the Covid pandemic announced on Wednesday extending the ban on travellers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, the Philippines and Brazil. It also announced that all arrivals from Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam would be barred from entering Oman, ONA reported.
Entry is banned for anyone travelling directly from these countries, and even those who have traveled through these countries for the past 14 days. The committee advised Omani citizens not to visit these countries.
The ban will come into effect from 2 pm on Saturday, June 5, 2021, until further notice.
However, Omanis and GCC citizens who are residing in the sultanate will be permitted to move across land borders between Oman and other GCC states to perform their daily tasks. They will be required to show proof of the assignments entrusted to them by their respective places of work.
Oman has banned all arrivals from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh since the evening of April 24. Later, it was extended.
The Supreme Committee has also decided to lift several of the Covid-19-related restrictions that were in place across the sultanate including the ban on commercial activities between 8 pm and 4 am. Mosques will reopen for the five daily prayers with a capacity of at least 100 worshipers while Friday prayers will not be allowed.
The reopening will be in accordance with the preventive measures previously announced by the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities.
The earlier decision to reduce entry to shopping complexes, shops, restaurants and cafes by 50 percent of their capacity will continue. Children under the age of 12 will be allowed to enter these outlets.
Exhibitions, wedding halls and other collective commercial activities will be permitted to open with 30 percent of its capacity and does not exceed 300 people in all cases for halls with a large capacity.
It also allowed public entry to beaches and parks. However, the ban on gatherings of any kind at these locations will continue.
