Oman

MUSCAT, Apr 18 (NNN-ONA) – Oman’s Dhofar Governorate, began a partial lockdown, running from 6.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. local time yesterday, citing a high level of danger from COVID-19.

The curfew is expected to bring down the rate of infection and also serves as a safety measure, to protect the community from the spread of the virus, according to the supreme committee handling COVID-19.

Oman has so far confirmed a total of 176,668 COVID-19 cases, including 156,845 recoveries and 1,821 deaths.

05 Apr 2021; MEMO: Oman will only allow citizens and residents to enter the Gulf Arab state from April 8 following an increase in COVID-19 cases that is pressuring the health care system, the country's coronavirus committee said on Monday, Reuters reports.

The committee also extended an evening ban on all commercial activities until the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which is due to start in mid-April this year, according to a statement on state media.

26 Feb 2021; MEMO: Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi held talks Thursday with US Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking on the possibility of ending the war in Yemen, Anadolu Agency reports.

According to the Oman News Agency, the parties discussed developments in Yemen and efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.

12 Feb 2021; MEMO: Oman is satisfied with its current relationship with Israel, the foreign minister said yesterday, Reuters reported.

"As regards Israel we are content so far with the level of our current relations and dialogue, which involves the appropriate channels of communication," Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said. Oman, he added, was committed to peace between Israel and the Palestinians based on a two-state solution.

18 Jan 2021; MEMO: Oman will close its land borders for one week from Monday to curb the spread of the coronavirus, especially a more contagious variant, state news agency ONA said on Sunday, Reuters reports.

The measure will come into effect from 6 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Monday and can be extended for longer than the initial one week closure, ONA said, citing a decision by the Gulf state's coronavirus emergency committee.

Dubai, Dec 27 (AP-PTI) The Persian Gulf state of Oman has launched its COVID-19 inoculation campaign, with the sultanate's health minister receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

State-run media reported that the first batch of 15,600 doses was flown in industrial freezers to Muscat International Airport last week to vaccinate a priority group of older adults, health care workers and those with underlying health conditions starting on Sunday.

28 Oct 2020; MEMO: The Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamad Al-Khalili, on Monday declared his full support for the boycott of French products following French President Emmanuel Macron’s offensive comments about Islam and its Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Sheikh Al-Khalili called on the Muslim nation to withdraw its investments from economic institutions run by “arrogant aggressors” and to work towards building fully independent global economies.

25 Aug 2020; MEMO: The number of Oman’s expatriate public sector workers have “declined remarkably” over the past year, the Sultanate’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) announced yesterday.

28 July 2020; MEMO: Oman has cancelled a major project with the United Arab Emirates worth billions of dollars, Arab sources have reported, highlighting the growing tension between the two countries. Oman’s new Sultan, Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said, is said to have issued an order to reduce Abu Dhabi’s grip on his country’s affairs.

24 July 2020; MEMO: Omani sites and forums have reported news of an amnesty issued by Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said for a number of political oppositionists residing in London and other Western capitals.

Sources indicated that the Sultanate’s embassy in the UK is making arrangements to ensure the oppositionists’ return to their countries, and to help them start a new life in Oman.