Manama: The Sultanate of Oman set to lockdown the capital Muscat governorate from Friday, April 10 amid rising threat of coronavirus infections.
As part of the lockdown, entry and exit in the governorate will be banned from April 10 until April 22, the supreme committee tasked with combating the Covid-19 outbreak, said in a tweet on Wednesday.
The latest move is part of the country's efforts to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.
The new restrictions come as the country registered 419 cases of novel coronavirus, including 48 in the last 24 hours. Of the 48 patients diagnosed on Wednesday, 41 were from Muscat alone. The number of confirmed cases in Muscat rose to 334.
The Sultanate reported 72 recoveries and two deaths so far, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The proposed lockdown will begin on April 10 at 10am and all movements will be restricted by Royal Oman Police checkpoints across the governorate, which exempts emergency cases and employees with special permits from their company, the supreme committee added.
The decision to shut down Muscat completely was taken by the Supreme Committee on Covid-19 meeting, which held on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior.
Later on the day, Royal Oman Police announced the details of the lockdown, which said that Muscat governorate will be completely isolated from all other governorates as part of the new measures. Individuals will not be allowed to enter or leave the governorate. Only grocery shops are allowed to operate, and movements will be facilitated for trucks, food supply and medical emergency.
Employees are allowed to go for work subject to the letter from the company. Outside employees will not be allowed unless the companies requests so.
The supreme committee noted that food and ration commodities are sufficient for a long time. Also, health care will be made available to all members of society in the Governorate of Muscat, supreme committee said.
Due to the increase of virus infections, the Wilayat of Muttrah, one of the administrative divisions, and home to old souq in the Muscat governorate has been completely locked down since April 1, 2020.
The governorate of Muscat comprised of the six administrative divisions: the capital Muscat, as well as Al-Seeb, Bawshar, Muttrah, Al-Amarat and Qurayyat.
The Supreme committee also decided to extend the suspension of education in all schools and universities in the country until further orders, after one-month halt that will end next Wednesday. The committee encouraged on the activation of online learning modules for students.
