Community response helped reduce prevalence of COVID-19

Muscat: The community response for the COVID-19 in Oman reflected in the commitment of individuals and institutions to the preventive measures taken to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 has had a profound impact on reducing the effects of the pandemic.
It has been clearly shown in the decrease in the number of cases and outbreaks recorded and the accompanying decrease in morbidity and hospitalisation, particularly in admissions to intensive care units (ICU), as well as mortality.
Since its launch in July 2020, the National sero-survey of COVID-19 virus infection has become one of the main pillars supporting the national strategy to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through the survey's objectives.
These objectives are marked in assessing the prevalence of COVID-19 infection by age groups, monitoring of laboratory-diagnosed cases and assessing the level of infection in various governorates in Oman, as well as the proportion of infections in those who have not shown symptoms, and assessing the effects of the closure of the governorates on the epidemic.
The results of the first cycle of the national sero-survey were consistent with the desired objectives, as the results showed that the overall prevalence of the disease at a national level was 6 per cent with 3.9 per cent in Omanis and 8.7 per cent for non-Omanis.
Based on these results, the study at this stage indicates that the number of infections in the Sultanate is estimated at 276,685 (among those who have symptoms and those who did not show symptoms).
Muscat and Al Wusta governorates had the highest prevalence of the disease at 9.2 per cent rate each whereas the results of the rest of the governorates were as follows: Al Buraimi 7.3 per cent, North Al Batinah 5.7 per cent. South Al Batinah 5.6 per cent, North A’Sharqiyah 3.6 per cent A’Dakhiliyah 3.2 per cent, Dhofar 2.6 per cent, South A’Sharqiyah 2.3 per cent, A’Dhahirah 1.9 per cent, Musandam 0.9 per cent.
Despite the importance of the information obtained from the samples of the first cycle, it should be noted that the continuation of the survey and the results that will be produced in the next stages is the most important, and here it should be emphasised on the need to continue the participation in the survey process by both the nationals and non-nationals.
It is worth mentioning that the final results of the survey will benefit the individuals and society and that the participation of individuals plays a crucial role in conducting and completing the survey as planned, and this can only be achieved by the concerted efforts of everyone and the activation of individual and community responsibility in serving our country.