COVID-19: Oman Police to activate control checkpoints in Dhofar Governorate

Dubai: Royal Oman Police (ROP) has announced on Friday it is going to activate control checkpoints in Dhofar Governorate and other parts of Sultanate in line with the decision of the Supreme Committe on COVID-19, starting from June 13, 2020.

A statement issued online by ROP said, "Dear citizens and residents, ROP would like to draw your attention that the decisions of the Supreme Committee to deal with COVID-19 concerning the lockdown in Dhofar Governorate, wilayats of Masirah and Duqm, Jabal Al Akhdar and Jabal Shams. The control checkpoints will be implemented starting from 12 pm on Saturday, 13th June until Friday 3rd July, 2020."

Earlier yesterday, the committee has taken several decisions including imposing a total lockdown in Dhofar Governorate meaning none will be allowed entry or exit, according to Omani News Agency.

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health, member of the Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, has said that decisions are taken in accordance with epidemiological data and on the basis of established scholarly norms.

Responding to a question during a press conference, the minister said no confirmed study has so far proved that a person who carries the diseases without showing symptoms cannot transfer the disease to a healthy person. (In other words, any carrier of the disease can transfer it to a healthy person, even if no symptoms appear on this infected person).

Al Saidi urged owners of companies to shoulder their responsibilities in curbing the spread of the disease. He explained that one of the causes of spread of the disease is the lack of compliance, among companies, with quarantine/isolation.

The Minister said that the number of intensive unit beds in the Sultanate stands at 147 beds. The number of beds can be increased, thanks to the support of the government of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik. He noted that the low rate of traffic accidents contributed to a greater rate of reception of infected people in intensive care units. The Minister valued the efforts of the Royal Oman Police in this respect.

Dr. Ahmed pointed out that, statistically speaking, a steady increase in number of recovered Covie-19 patients will be observed over the next few days because the Sultanate changed the definition of ‘recovery’ concept in line with norms in other GCC states.

The Minister said that the isolation of most areas of Wilayat of Mattrah will be lifted and that only a limited number of areas in the wilayat will remain locked down.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Dr. Ahmed Al Futaisi said that countries of the world are ready to outline plans for total recovery of their respective aviation sectors. In the Sultanate, he explained, all necessary terms and protocols for airport operation have been finalized and that air traffic will be resumed in time, said the Minister.

He added that, in case air traffic is resumed, it will be initially restricted to domestic flights and that the resumption of international air traffic will follow (as determined by conditions). The Supreme Committee sees the need to “take its time” before resuming internal air traffic, particularly at a time when the Supreme Committee announced the lockdown of some destinations like Dhofar Governorate and Duqm.

The Minister of Transport reaffirmed that the Supreme Committee gives priority to public safety when considering the resumption of other activities that are banned so far. This is because the panel sees a need for unhurried reopening of activities where social distancing is difficult like mosques, kindergartens and celebration halls.