Manama: Oman has decided to ban arrivals from ten countries, in an effort to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, especially the newer strains.
The ban applies to Lebanon, Sudan, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Guinea, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia. The ban is effective from Thursday, February 25, and will remain in force for 15 days.
The ban will also apply to transit travellers who have passed through the 10 banned countries during a 14-day period prior to their date of travel, the supreme committee to combat covid-19 said on Tuesday.
Citizens, diplomats of foreign missions in Oman, and healthcare workers and their families are exempted from the ban.
The Supreme Committee advised people to avoid travel abroad to prevent getting into contact with the new virus variants, which have proven to be more infectious.
