COVID-19: Oman minister says country will have to pay heavy price if people don't abide by regulations

Dubai: Oman has reported an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit, local media reported.

According to Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi, Minister of Health, the number of patients in intensive care was 51 before January 21 and the number doubled two days ago to reach 102 patients.

New virus variant

The minister revealed that Oman has registered six cases of the new virus variant, adding that the Supreme Committee tasked with tackling COVID-19 has taken a number of precautionary measures to halt the spread of the genetic mutation of the virus, including the closure of borders and other measures that the country did not want to take, but had to as many people did not abide by the procedures.

“There are 96 suspected cases of patients infected with the new strain, but we are waiting for their reports to come and then only can we confirm,” he disclosed, adding that the discovery of any case infected with the virus in schools does not mean that the source of the virus is the school, but rather the community.

“Most common new strains of the emerging coronavirus in the world is the UK strain. We have advanced capabilities to detect it, whether in the laboratories of the Ministry of Health, Sultan Qaboos University, or the private sector labs,” Al Saidi stated.

“We will have to pay a heavy price if we do not comply with the precautionary measures,” the minister said.

Al Saidi urged citizens and residents to adhere to precautionary measures in their fight against COVID-19 so that the government need not take any strict measures. The minister strongly cautioned those with respiratory symptoms or suspected of being infected not go to work.

Possible lockdown

Addressing the Supreme Committee press conference, Al Saidi said he hopes the Supreme Committee will not impose another lockdown and close the country. “The decision to close the country will not be taken easily, and we hope that the process of closure and imposition of lockdown will not be carried out at this stage but if there are no adherence to the preventive measures such decisions will be discussed.”

“We do not want to re-close the Sultanate’s airports to international flights. The issue was discussed at the Supreme Committee meeting yesterday. The airports were not closed because they were easy to manage ..."

COVID-19 vaccine

Speaking on COVID-19 vaccines, the minister said that a total of 2.5 million doses have been reserved for the Sultanate by vaccine manufacturers. “The ultimate target is to vaccinate everyone in the country,” he further said.

“The next shipment from Pfizer will arrive in the middle of this month, and whoever took the first dose will be the first to take the second dose. The Oxford vaccine is 90 per cent effective and its safety has been proven, and it is produced from a well-known institute in India. We thank our friends in India for the gift. We urge people to stop spreading rumours about vaccines and effectiveness."

Al Saidi went on to say that receiving two doses of the vaccine does not mean that the person is exempted from quarantine in the event of travel because he may be a carrier of the virus and will pass it on to others even if he is protected from infection, and the concerned committee is still studying this issue.

The Supreme Committee requested that there be an assessment of the current situation and previous measures, and there will be a study that will be submitted and include proposals if necessary, the development of other facilities to support the private sector .

The minister made it clear that the commercial activities previously announced will remain open unless another decision is issued about them, urging people to make use of online shopping instead of going to shopping malls during peak hours.

“We know that some have been affected by the recent decisions regarding wedding and meeting halls, and the Minister of Heritage and Tourism and the Municipality of Muscat have been contacted to direct the owners of these halls to conclude a settlement with the tenants,” he further said.

He highlighted that the Supreme Committee may take a decision to publish the names of institutions and establishments that violate the precautionary measures.

Old or new strain?

For her part, Dr. Amal bint Saif Al Maani, Senior Consultant in Paediatric and Infectious Diseases, Director of Central Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, said that there is no specific test for the old or new strain, but after taking the test, it is possible to find out what kind of strains a person has.

She said that the new strains are no longer limited to specific countries but have spread to most countries of the world, and most countries have the capabilities to detect them.

Al Maani emphasised that It is unfair to provide the vaccine for welfare and travel purposes, and to deprive the target groups and who are entitled to it.

Minister of Commerce Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy stressed that Oman has proven its ability to overcome the crisis and to provide various needs and supplies. The movement of freight and import continues at the ports and airports, adding that there will be another package to facilitate SMEs.

“We call on everyone to adhere to the precautionary measures and not to crowd in commercial stores that show offers or discounts. The ministry submitted a proposal to the committee to activate scouts and guides in commercial centres and at gathering places and monitor violations to avoid issuing public decisions that affect larger numbers. All the facilities and exemptions came as a result of the closure of activities, and the situation now is different," Al Sunaidy said.

School exams

Also during the press conference, Hamad Al Rashidi, Director General of the General Directorate of Education in Al Batinah South Governorate announced that there will be no exams during the first semester, but there will be final exams at the end of the school year.