MUSCAT — A night-time ban on all commercial activities and movement of people throughout Oman during the holy month of Ramadan will come into effect on Wednesday, the Oman News Agency reported on Tuesday. The move, which was taken by the country's supreme committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, amid rising cases of coronavirus in the Sultanate. As part of the night curfew, which begins from 9 p.m. and continues until 4 a.m., all types of gatherings, like Iftar in mosques, tents, or public assembling places are prohibited. The committee also imposed a ban on all social, sports, and cultural activities and any other group activities throughout the holy month of Ramadan. However, exemptions will be given to some activities, including the movement of 3-ton trucks, the operation of pharmacies, and the movement of employees of health and media sectors who hold relevant permissions, according to the report. Exemptions will also be given to workers at oilfields, water and electricity emergency services, loading and unloading operations within factories and stores, wastewater tankers, and filling stations operating in shifts. Exemptions will be also given to beekeepers and food labs provided that they have a permit approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources. Commenting on the move, Oman's Information Minister Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al-Harrasi, who is also a member of the coronavirus supreme committee, said during the media briefing that the decisions taken by the committee for the holy month of Ramadan might be revised at any moment if the number of infection/death cases subsides. The decisions can either be relaxed or toughened, depending on the pandemic situation. Meanwhile, as many as 1,269 new cases of coronavirus were registered in Oman on Wednesday, in addition to 9 more deaths. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases to 175,633 in the Sultanate and the virus-related fatalities to 1,807, according to a statement from the country's health ministry. The ministry also pointed out that 874 new cases have recovered, bringing the total number to 155,645 recoveries.
