Mobile vaccination drive continues in Muscat

Muscat – With several COVID-19 restrictions eased, travel procedures to Oman are returning to pre-pandemic normalcy.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that travellers to the sultanate can present the mandatory COVID-19 PCR negative report upon arrival or within 24 hours of arrival. It has also cancelled the pre-registration requirement for all arrivals via the Ministry of Health link, which was earlier necessary before travel.

‘Based on the decisions of the Supreme Committee for tackling the impact of COVID-19, the Civil Aviation Authority hereby informs all passengers and aircraft operators in Oman that passengers travelling to the sultanate are not required, with immediate effect, to register in http://travel. moh.gov.om,’ CAA stated.

‘All passengers aged 18 and older travelling to Oman are required to present a negative result of COVID-19 PCR test, upon arrival or within 24 hours after arrival, besides a health insurance covering COVID-19.’

CAA also stated that non-Omani passengers aged 18 and older travelling to the sultanate are required to present a vaccination certificate indicating that they have received at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

The new decision to relax travel requirements will pave the way for hassle-free travel, boosting movement of international visitors. “This is a welcome move. There were too many restrictions on travel until now. This will allow stress-free travel,” said Faris Hamza, assistant manager – ecommerce, Majan Travels.

“Now, hopefully travel will be like earlier times. This is also good if one needs to travel urgently. It does away with the need of testing and waiting 24 hours for the report,” he added.

Hiten Dutia, Muscat-based entrepreneur, described the steps taken by the authorities as “remarkable” for the benefit all travellers.

He suggested authorities consider gradual removal of PCR test reports upon arrival from select countries for vaccinated passengers.

Mobile vaccination drive continues in Muscat

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is continuing its immunisation campaign against COVID-19 through its mobile service. Its vaccination team will visit several more sites in Muscat governorate in the next two days.

‘The Directorate General of Health Services in Muscat Governorate announces the continuation of the vaccination service against COVID-19, in cooperation with Al Raffah Hospital, starting from February 22 to 24,’ MoH stated.

On Tuesday, the vaccination team was positioned at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Development in Bausher from 9am to 1pm.

On Wednesday, the team will visit the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology from 9am to 1pm. On Thursday, the service will be available at Knowledge Oasis Muscat, Seeb, from 9am to 1pm.

The immunisation campaign has played a significant role in reducing infection rate. MoH announced 1,224 new cases reported in a 24-hour period on Tuesday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases registered in Oman to 377,948. Four more deaths were reported in this period.

‘The total number of COVID-19 related deaths reported in the country now stands at 4,238,’ an MoH statement said. Following 1,312 recoveries reported on Tuesday, the total number of recoveries has increased to 359,445, accounting for a recovery rate of 95.1 per cent.