Tuesday, March 19
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With cases of COVID-19 rising, fears of a lockdown linger

22 Jan 2022 By SHADDAD AL MUSALMY

Muscat – With the COVID-19 daily case count rising in Oman, will we go back into lockdown again? It may be a new year full of hope but the concerns over the Omicron variant of the virus and its high transmissibility have many people wondering about further measures in 2022.

Muscat Daily spoke with a cross-section of people who are still recovering from the impact of lockdowns and do not want a return of restrictions. The rising numbers everyday has most worried.

“I am finding 2022 to be a difficult time because of the confusion over what we should be doing as cases rise again. The thought of another lockdown is making me anxious. I don’t want that to happen,” said Bader al Harthy, a businessman based in Seeb.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) announced 1,800 new infections, one death and 39 new hospitalisations in a 24-hour period on Thursday. The total number of COVID-19 cases registered in the country has now risen to 318,272. ‘The total number of COVID-19 related deaths reported in the sultanate is 4,125,’ an MoH statement said. With 532 COVID-19 patients recovering on Thursday, the total number of recoveries has increased to 303,644.

However, unlike Harthi, there are those who feel safer in a lockdown. “I acknowledge the fact that lockdowns are bad and a lot of people have suffered due to these. But people are also alive now because of lockdowns. We will respect whatever the authorities decide,” said Rashid al Jabri, a retired private sector employee.

Last month, H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Sa’eedi, Minister of Health and Supreme Committee member, said, “We do not make decisions based on predictions. Many expected us to close and tighten the measures but the decisions of the Supreme Committee look at all the data and the local, regional and international epidemiological situation.”

Another matter of concern voiced in the current situation is the rising number of hospitalisations. “More people are going to get ill. We are seeing an increase in hospitalisations. It feels like we are going back to square one but at the same time, I believe vaccinations will make a difference in hospitalisation figures, and God forbid, deaths,” said Munira al Musallami, a retired government hospital nurse.

On Thursday, a total of 125 COVID-19 patients were in heath institutions, including 39 new hospitalisations and 12 in intensive care units.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services in North Batinah Governorate has announced that expatriates aged 18 years and older, who have completed three months since the second dose, can take the booster dose at the Rehabilitation Centre in Sohar from Sunday till February 3, 2022.

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