Oman reintroduces nigh-time curfew amid spike in COVID-19 cases, deaths

MUSCAT — Oman has decided to reintroduce a night-time movement ban and close all public places and shops, starting from Oct. 11 (Sunday) until Oct. 24 as the Sultanate struggles to curb the spread of coronavirus, Bahrain News Agency reported on Friday.

The movement restrictions will apply from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 am. As part of the decision, which was taken by the country’s supreme committee to deal with coronavirus, beaches will also be closed until further notice.

In a statement carried by BNA, the supreme committee said: “After studying reports on the spike in new infections and deaths and an unprecedented rise in occupancy of hospital wards and intensive care units, overwhelming the capacities of the health sector in the Sultanate, the following decisions have been taken to protect individuals and ensure the health sector’s ability to perform its duties:

1. Prohibition of movement and lockdown of all public places and commercial outlets from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m every night from Oct. 11 (Sunday) until Oct. 24.

2. Ban on the use of beaches till further notice.

3. Re-closure of some activities (businesses) that were previously opened but they failed to abide by the conditions set by the committee. The departments concerned will later announce the details of such activities.

4. Names and pictures of offenders who violate the instructions will be published in the media.

The committee urged all, particularly young people, to fully comply with precautionary measures at the individual level and the collective level.

All should refrain from family and social gatherings. The departments concerned will take legal action against all violators who breach the directives, warned the committee.