COVID-19: Curfew starts tonight in Oman

Muscat: As Oman goes into another phase of curfew that bans all movement except emergency ones from 8pm till 5am, some citizens and residents are speaking up about the implications and importance of the situation.

Teddy Mathew, Manager of Chatni restaurant says that apart from restaurant operation timings that have been changed, there isn’t much of an impact on business activities unlike the previous instance of curfew. “This time around we get breathing space between lunch and dinner services as the curfew starts from 8pm. Last time it was from 7pm to 6am, which meant we had to restrict the last orders at half past five or not beyond 6pm. But as the Minister of Health has mentioned, none of us are safe till all of us are safe, and I hope everyone abides by the health rules that control the spread of virus.”

Stricter enforcements

Roy Lasantha, President of Sri Lankan Social Club in Muscat says that there has to be stricter enforcement of penalties for offenders. “I hope the curfew brings in the desired results, and people stay put at home. I do stay at home during this time, and I know many do. If youth are to be stopped from their night-outings, they must either be incentivised or penalised with stricter enforcements. Certain activities like beauty salons, gymnasiums and sports related ones, should be limited, or strictly monitored. Vast majority comply with the safety rules, but it’s the limited few that don’t and everyone should remember that the economy has to run as well, if we are to move ahead.”

Avaantica Ashok, a freelance digital marketing consultant, says that while curfews and lockdown help bringing the COVID-19 infection numbers down, there should be a mechanism to sustain the alertness among general public, on the impact of the COVID-19. “On a different yet a very valid note, I hope there were methods to identify the male and female offenders, which I do on my observation instinctively. And from my observation I find women of all nationalities to be cautious and alert with all the safety norms and measures. I have made many calls to the numbers that has been posted on social media channels to share information on offenders, even on non-curfew times, and I intend to continue doing so.”