Oman will ban travel between all its governorates from July 25 to Aug. 8, a period that includes a holiday for Eid al-Adha, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, state news agency ONA said on Tuesday.
A statement from the Health Ministry described the measure as a “total lockdown” of all governorates.
The Gulf state will also implement a daily curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the period, which includes the Eid Al-Adha holiday period. Shops and public spaces will be closed during the hours of curfew.
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Police patrols will be intensified and command and control points will be activated in the daytime during the lockdown period, said a statement issued by the Supreme Committee, which also banned all types of assembling or gatherings, including Eid Al Adha prayers and traditional pre-Eid souq/trading activities (hapta), as well as any exchange of Eid visits among families or group gatherings to celebrate the Eid.
The decisions were taken in view of the considerable rise in number of people being infected with Covid-19.
Oman, a country of 4.7 million people, recorded 1,458 new case of infection on Tuesday and 11 deaths, taking the total tally to 69,887 cases and 337 deaths.
Oman introduced lockdowns in March in some regions such as Muscat, Dhofar, Duqm and some tourist towns. Since April, it has gradually allowed commercial centers to reopen and lifted the lockdown in the Muscat region, which includes the capital.
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Air and land borders have been closed, except for repatriation. Last week, the government said it would start allowing citizens fly abroad after applying for permission.
In Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Oman and five other Gulf Arab states, the biggest nation Saudi Arabia has the highest number of confirmed infections. Together the group has recorded more than 5,82,000 cases and more than 3,880 deaths.
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