More than 100 COVID-19 deaths in Oman in six days

Muscat: Oman has recorded more than 100 deaths from COVID-19 in the past six days alone, with the 33 new deaths recorded on Tuesday, 15 June, 2021 taking it well past the three-digit mark.

Between Thursday, June 10, and Tuesday, June 15, the country saw 117 people die from the coronavirus.

During this period, the number of patients in hospital has also risen, from 1,060 on Thursday, to 1,247 on Tuesday. Similarly, there has been an increase in the number of people admitted to intensive care: there were 345 people in ICUs on June 10, a number that increased to 374 by June 15.

2,565 people have lost their lives from the coronavirus, and there are about 26,502 people currently infected with the disease. The total number of COVID cases in the country stands at 238,566, while 212,064 people have recovered, which reflects a recovery rate of 89 per cent.

Speaking to Times of Oman, Ibrahim Al Maimani, a social activist and data analyst, said: “This is the second time Oman has recorded 2,126 new cases since the beginning of the pandemic. 2,146 cases were recorded on July 13, 2020.”

Al Maimani confirmed that a new record was also recorded in terms of deaths, as 33 more people passed away on Tuesday. The daily death rate so far this month has averaged about 14.4 deaths per day.

This is the highest rate we have seen since the start of the pandemic: previously, the highest rate was 11.5 deaths per day in April 2021.

Ibrahim Al Maimani also said: “An increase in the number of inpatients in hospitals has also continued, reached 1,247 cases, an increase of 54 percent since the beginning of the month. In terms of inpatients in intensive care, there are now 374 people in ICUs, an increase of 51 percent.”

To bring down case numbers in the country, and reduce pressure on hospitals and healthcare workers, government bodies in Oman have asked people to get vaccinated against the virus, as soon as they are able.

Vaccination centres set up in various parts of the country have seen brisk numbers of people visiting them to get their COVID jabs.

People who have blood disorders, however, have been asked to consult with their doctors regarding the best time to take their vaccines.

This is “to determine whether they can be given a vaccine in the form of intramuscular injections, and must be given a specified time to get their vaccines, so that it does not cause bleeding or haematoma at the injection site,” said the Ministry of Health.

Similarly, people with other comorbidities are recommended to get their vaccine doses administered at the institution they normally go to for treatment, as the staff there will know how to handle their health issues.

Alternatively, they must be “provided with a report listing his/her comorbidities, complications and medications so that the vaccines can be given to him/her in the vaccine centres, if there are no other contraindications for them to get the vaccine,” explained the ministry.

In the interim, to curb the spread of COVID-19, hospitals have stopped visitors from visiting patients on most wards.

In Khoula Hospital, for example, visitors are not allowed to see patients on any of the wards, the ICU, and the burn unit.

Only the parents of children admitted to the special baby care unit, the neonatal wards, and the paediatric section, may accompany and/or see their children while they are at the hospital.