The virus, which is invisible to the naked eye, has massively disrupted economies, healthcare, and education systems worldwide. However, with time, communities in Oman have adapted to the situation and are already leading a ‘new normal’ life.

“The community in Oman has become more keen to adhere to the preventive measures. It has now become more aware about the virus,” H E Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidi, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Committee said on Sunday.

According to a cross section of people Muscat Daily spoke to, COVID-19 has changed the way people live, forcing them to adapt to social and economic restrictions, which range from school closures to social distancing and bans on public gatherings.

“There is no option but to learn how to respond to the impact of COVID-19. Businesses should consider the immediate and longer-term solutions for their business decisions and their strategy moving forward. In Oman, I am glad to see that people are beginning to adapt to the situation but much more needs to be done,” Musallam al Habsi, an event management expert, said, adding that the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.

“Around the world, businesses have had to take immediate measures to protect their business and employees, and plan for what is expected to be a prolonged economic recovery, and Oman needs to follow suit,” Habsi said.

Saleh al Khaldi, a training expert and life coach, said, given the coronavirus’ current situation, some households have also had time to change the way they live. “I think, our immediate focus should be to tackle the complex problems that have emerged from the pandemic, so that we make the post COVID-19 era a fruitful one by adapting to a ‘new normal’, which is accepting the preventive measures and changing the way we live, work, and socialise,” he said.

Indeed many families now have changed the way they live and socialise. “Our family bond is still strong, even though we have stopped gathering. We still see and greet each other in different ways, and it is now becoming a ‘new normal’ to avoid shaking hands and keeping safe distance whenever I meet with my family and friends. Life has changed but we can’t complain. It is a matter of adapting to the new ways of life,” Hamad al Dhawi, a retired private sector employee, said.