Coronavirus: Oman stops the printing of all newspapers

Dubai: Oman on Sunday stepped up its ongoing efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus with a package of new drastic measures that will be enforced across the country, the Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The Sultanate’s Supreme Committee for Dealing with COVID-19 today suspended the printing, distribution and sale of all newspapers, magazines and publications. It also decided reduce the number of employees in public offices to 30 per cent in order to ensure the smoothness of workflow and perform vital duties. The remaining 70 per cent will accordingly continue to work from home as decided by their employers.

The committee also decided to ban all types of public gatherings and punish violators. All service centres at public and private entities will also be closed. Services will be delivered online instead whenever possible. Other decisions also include the closure of all exchange shops, and exchange services will only be offered by banks while taking maximum precautionary measures.

The committee called on the private sector to introduce new remote working mechanisms and to reduce labour gatherings at workplace as much as possible. It also urged members of the public to stop using cash and pay online instead and to adhere to all guidelines and instructions issued by concerned authorities.