SULTANATE REPORTS HIGHEST NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES A DAY
As the Sultanate reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases for a single day on Monday, it was clear that Muscat is the focus area of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ministry of Health reported 33 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, with the number for infected crossing the 300-mark to reach 331.
The capital, which accounted for 31 of these 33 cases, continues to dominate the list with 257, followed by Al Dakhiliyah (23), South Al Batinah (15 ), Musandam (2), Al Dhahirah (3), South Al Sharqiyah (1), Al Buraimi (1), North Al Batinah (21) and Dhofar (8).
It may be added that 29 of the 61 recovered cases in Oman also are from Muscat.
Two COVID-19 related deaths reported in the Sultanate have been from Muscat – first death, a 72-year-old citizen, was recorded on March 31 and the second again a 72-year-old citizen who contracted the disease earlier, was reported on Saturday (April 4).
According to the ministry, 226 of the 257 cases reported in Muscat are currently sick.
Currently, the Wilayat of Muttrah is being placed in isolation due to the prevalence of societal transmission, according to the Minister of Health.
He added earlier, “Muttrah has been put under quarantine because of the prevalence of societal transmission, which is the transmission of the virus to people without contacting infected persons and not related to travel”.
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has been stopping people at strategic points in Muttrah from leaving the wilayat for unjustified reasons.
“My office has not officially stopped me from coming to work due to the nature of my job. With police checkpoints at different locations, I have to give convincing reasons to pass through” , said a Muscat resident Mohan. Even people travelling to supermarkets are checked to make sure that it is not more than one person at a time. The ROP has provided alternative access and exit to Muttrah, which has been under lockdown since April 1. The alternative route is the Qurumdarsait-muttrah-muscat-al Bustan (seaside) road.
Motorists have also been recommended to wear masks and gloves while driving for essential needs and carry their identification (ID) and work cards at all times.
SUPREME COMMITTEE VISITS As part of following the developments of coronavirus in the Sultanate, a number of members of the Supreme Committee on Monday visited the Directorates of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to view measures that have been taken to curb COVID-19.
The members of the committee, led by Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy, Minister of Interior, visited the Directorate General of Diseases Surveillance and Control. They were briefed on the efforts exerted by the Moh’s Technical Committee concerned with tackling COVID-19 outbreak along with the procedures that have been taken in the Sultanate in this regard.
The members also visited the Emergency Management Centre to get acquainted with the role of the centre, the local and regional epidemiological situation of the virus, as well as the sectoral response in dealing with various scenarios that may occur.
Further, the members visited the COVID-19 Operation Management Centre, located at the Higher College of Technology-muscat, to closely view the process of reporting the disease and entering data in the “Tarassud” application. The members were briefed on all sections of the centre including Prevention and Infection Control, Health of Points of Entry (Airport & Ports), Data Management and Epidemiological Investigation, Primary Healthcare, Support and Promote Health of Isolated Persons and the Contacts, Private Establishments, and Studies and Researches.