Saturday 21 / December / 2024
Muscat: The Supreme Committee to deal with Covid-19 held a press conference on Thursday, July 8 and took several decisions.
Here are the latest updates:
1- The Ministry of Health has registered 1453 new coronavirus cases and 15 deaths in Oman.
2- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Saidi, Minister of Health: 1,936,330 doses of vaccines have arrived in Oman so far.
3- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: 1,518,864 doses of vaccines have been administered across the Sultanate so far.
4- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: 1,226,293 people in Oman have been vaccinated against Covid-19 so far, 36 per cent of the set target.
5- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health advises caution during the upcoming Eid Al-Adha holidays. “I don’t think I need to repeat what happened previously (rise in cases) during feast or gatherings, whether weddings or funerals. The decisions by the Supreme Committee are based on evidence and a closure has been proven to lead to a decrease in the epidemiological curve of Covid-19. We aim to immunise 65 to 70 per cent of target groups with at least 1 dose of vaccines by the end of August.”
6- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: “While I do not like to mention the term ‘collapse of the health sector’, there are health systems which were highly funded and had a very long history which have collapsed due to this pandemic.”
7- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: “The decision to enforce a complete closure on the Eid days has generated a lot of controversy. How can some people celebrate Eid with the increasing number of deaths, as everyone is affected by this pandemic.”
8- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: “The vaccination campaign will stop during the days of complete ban, and will continue intensively after that.”
9- Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean: "Most countries across the world are using closure procedures to aim and protect lives. The measures taken by Oman are appropriate."
10- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: “The health sector in Oman has exceeded its absorptive hours and hundreds of cases are in intensive care. Health workers have been working nonstop for the past 18 months.”
11- Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean: “Globally, the confirmed case count has reached 184 million, including 4 million deaths. In the eastern Mediterranean region, 11,200,000 cases have been recorded. An increase was observed in 9 countries and in this week, we have seen an increase in deaths in 10 countries compared to last week’s figures.”
12- Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean: “The World Health Organization seeks to vaccinate 70 per cent of the world's population by the middle of 2022.”
13- Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations: “All procedures will remain the same as the previous movement ban. The ban this time will be in effect from July 16 to the end of this month.”
14- Major General Abdullah bin Ali bin Hamad Al-Harthy, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations: “During the closure, exceptions will be made for passage of patients, humanitarian cases and for every activity related to the storage and sale of foodstuff and other basic essential activities. Medical cases and emergency teams dealing with electricity supply, water supply and other essential services will be permitted.”
15- Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean: “The closure decision by Oman during Eid will protect the lives of citizens and expatriates and relieve pressure on medical staff. The reasons for the rise in cases are attributed to the new mutations of the Covid-19 virus, the lax application of community prevention measures and the slow spread of the vaccine system worldwide.”
16- Dr. Saif bin Salem Al Abri, Director General of Disease Control and Control, Ministry of Health: “There is no change so far regarding the protocols in place for those visiting Oman.”
17 - Major General Abdullah bin Ali bin Hamad Al-Harthy, Assistant Inspector. General of Police and Customs for Operations: “Checkpoints will be set up between governorates during the movement ban.”
18 - Qais Al-Youssef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion: “We will take into account the problems faced by small and medium enterprises. The complete closure will be implemented for the shortest possible period.”
19- Eng. Issam bin Saud bin Harib al- Zadjali, Chairman of Muscat Municipality: “The municipality’s slaughterhouses will be available in two shifts, between 7 am and 12 noon and between 3 pm and 4.30 pm. During the Eid holidays, slaughterhouses will be closed.”
20- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: “Measures to deal with those people from target groups who refuse to be vaccinated are being studied.”
21- Major General Abdullah bin Ali bin Hamad Al-Harthy, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations: “For farmers who need to water their crops as well as tend to their farms and livestock, there will be some scope of flexibility in the rules and these groups will be allowed to carry out their activities, but in strict compliance with clear and specific rules and controls.”
22- Dr. Saif bin Salem Al Abri, Director General of Disease Control and Control, Ministry of Health: “The aim is to vaccinate 2 million people with at least 1 dose by mid-July. This will mean coverage of up to 55 per cent of the target group. We expect to complete vaccination of all target groups with the first dose by mid-August.”
23- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: “News being circulated of the holding of a habta today morning in one of the governorates, if true, is a serious and explicit violation of the decisions of the Supreme Committee and a reason for causing the spread of the virus.”
24- Major General Abdullah bin Ali bin Hamad Al-Harthy, Assistant Inspector. General of Police and Customs for Operations: “Non-vaccinated people will not be allowed to enter Musandam and Dhofar. There is also no change in the decisions on issuing of visas, except for whatever exclusions have been announced by the Supreme Committee.”
25 - Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: “Oman has taken the initiative to recognise all vaccination certificates registered in GCC countries.”
26- Dr. Saif bin Salem Al Abri, Director General of Disease Control and Control, Ministry of Health: “Everyday, 40,000 people are being vaccinated currently and this number will increase to 80,000 post the Eid holidays with the arrival of more vaccines. The death rate among those aged 60 and above has dropped significantly post vaccination. Vaccines prevent infection but even those with two doses can catch Covid-19 but the infection will be relatively minor and prevents the occurrence of critical cases that require hospitalisation. Last week, the WHO issued a report that points out that despite vaccinations in developed countries, there still exists an outlook of caution against the lifting of precautionary measures.”
27- Qais Al-Youssef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion said: Delivery companies and street vendors are allowed to sell during the closure period, provided that they obtain permits.
28- Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health: Will take legal action against workers in government institutions who refuse to take vaccination doses without a convincing medical reason, private sector institutions may take the same approach.
