Avoid travel plans outside the country: Ministry of Health

Muscat: The Ministry of Health has urged citizens and residents to avoid travelling abroad during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, unless absolutely necessary so that they avoid contact with the new, emerging strains of the virus. The ministry has also asked people to continue to adopt the precautionary measures required to stop the spread of the virus in the country.

Currently, arrivals into the country at all ports of entry – either by land, sea, or air – are required to undergo mandatory quarantine. The country’s borders are also closed to those who live outside the country, until further notice. “All arrivals to the Sultanate, through the country’s land, air or sea borders are subject to mandatory institutional quarantine at their own expense,” said a government advisory.

Exemptions to the quarantine rule are provided to people aged 60 and above, as well as children under 15. Travellers with health problems or those who cannot quarantine because they have undergone medical treatment are also not needed to undergo quarantine. This is, however, provided they procure a medical certificate that confirms their current medical condition.

Measures have also been drawn up for workers to undergo quarantine at facilities organised by their companies. For companies to convert their quarters into quarantine zones, however, a number of conditions must be met. These include setting up a separate reception area for workers undergoing quarantine, and installing thermal cameras on the premises, to check their temperatures.

Before these areas can be designated quarantine facilities, companies must “submit a request for approval to the Director-General of Social Development in the governorate, and the supervisor of the relief and shelter sector in order to use a health isolation site belonging to the company,” said the Government Communications Centre.

“Approval must be obtained from the technical teams represented by the Royal Oman Police, the medical response units, public health authorities, and the relief and shelter sector, which will only be provided after a field visit,” added the centre. These facilities must be monitored to ensure people isolated within do not break quarantine, and for this purpose, surveillance cameras must be installed at the entrances.