Oman: Alert issued to avoid travel to South Africa

Muscat: An alert issued by the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Pretoria advises Omani citizens to postpone any trips to South Africa during this period.

The statement comes in the wake of the discovery of the new COVID–19 strain reportedly found in parts of the UK and South Africa. The rapid spread of the new strain has forced many countries to review and revise commercial flight movements to these countries.

Oman has opened its borders which was closed for a week, from December 22, due to the new strain of COVID-19. The reopening of borders have also come with new and revised border controls as cautionary measures continue to be put in place to curb the spread of virus.

All visitors to Oman must now undergo a compulsory PCR test before arriving into the Sultanate. Even those coming for short visits with duration of less than seven days have to undergo quarantine.

PCR test

The pre-arrival COVID–19 test, bearing a negative certificate, before entering Oman should be done within 72 hours prior to date of boarding the flight. On arrival, the passengers have to undergo another PCR test at the airport, the results of which will be available within 24 hours through the Tarassud app which has to be downloaded with registration done through the app, before arrival to Oman.

While citizens, GCC residents and those residents who have health insurance cards are exempted from a health insurance, others have to have a health insurance with coverage for COVID-19 treatment.

Meanwhile COVID-19 vaccination is going on unabatedly across Sultanate. The daily figures released by Oman’s Ministry of Heath indicate that over 6,500 citizens have been vaccinated with the first dose as on January 1, effectively covering over 26 per cent of the population.