Covid-19: Oman goes into complete lockdown, Sur exempt due to heavy rains

Oman has gone into complete lockdown with all commercial activities and the movement of individuals and vehicles banned throughout the day during the Eid Al Adha holidays.

On Friday, the Covid-19 Supreme Committee decided to extend the total lockdown from the first day of Eid Al Adha until the morning of Saturday, July 24, the Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

وسوف يستمر الإغلاق المسائي للأنشطة التجاريّة ومنع الحركة للأفراد والمركبات خلال الفترة من 24 يوليو الجاري إلى صباح يوم السبت 31 يوليو الجاري من الساعة الخامسة مساءً وينتهي في الساعة الرابعة صباحًا.

— وكالة الأنباء العمانية (@OmanNewsAgency) July 19, 2021

The Supreme Committee had earlier said that no Eid Al Adha prayers, no traditional pre-Eid souqs (habta) and no gatherings are allowed in all governorates of the country. This ban includes family gatherings, Eid greeting assemblies and collective celebrations of Eid.

Read: Oman: Complete lockdown declared for Eid Al Adha 2021

However, the committee announced on Monday that due to heavy rains and flooding of wadis in public and private properties in the Wilayat of Sur, certain activities will be permitted in the region.

“To help bring life back to normal in a manner that does not contradict the measures and procedures endorsed to curb the pandemic (among them a ban on commercial activity and the movement of individuals and vehicles during Eid Al Adha days — from July 20 to 23), the Covid-19 Supreme Committee has decided to allow the movement of individuals and the opening of service outlets (foodstuff sale, bakeries, restaurants, shops selling building materials, electrical appliances and sanitary items and outlets selling animal feed) in the Wilayat of Sur only from 7am to 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 20 and 21,” ONA reported.

فرق الإنقاذ بهيئة الدفاع المدني والإسعاف تتمكن من إنقاذ (36) شخصًا احتُجزوا بمجاري الأودية جرّاء الحالة الجوية التي شهدتها السلطنة، موضحةً أنّ جميعهم بصحة جيّدة.#العمانية pic.twitter.com/cZbHtlIEYd

— وكالة الأنباء العمانية (@OmanNewsAgency) July 19, 2021

The committee also decided to allow service task teams of different specialties to perform their duties in Sur during the same period in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development.