Oman: Shopping malls must operate at only 50% capacity

Dubai: Shopping malls, cinemas, shops, restaurants, and cafes must operate at only 50 per cent of its capacity, Omani authorities warned yesterday.

In a statement, the Government Communication Centre (GC) said establishments violating the Supreme Committee's decisions will be penalised. “Entry to complexes, shops, restaurants, and cafés is still limited to 50 per cent capacity,” the GC clarified in the statement.

Meanwhile, Muscat Municipality has also informed theatres to open only at 50 per cent capacity while adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols.

Last week, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism penalised several tourist and hotel establishments for violating the Supreme Committee decisions.

This comes as Oman is witnessing a surge in new coronavirus infections including a rise in hospital cases. Just last Thursday, Oman recorded a new high for hospitalised patients with more than 160 cases of COVID-19, and 19 deaths, the highest number since April, as per the data from the Ministry of Health.