Muscat, The Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from coronavirus (Covid-19) followed updates on the global epidemiological situation of Covid-19 and its impacts on public health, particularly as regards the spread of mutated, travel-related variants of the virus and the resultant spillover in the Sultanate as confirmed by local polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted on incoming travellers. Accordingly, the Supreme Committee issued the following statement:

“To protect individuals of society from more exposure to this disease and, to maintain the capability of the health system and enable health workers to keep the situation under control, the Supreme Committee took the following decisions:

First: To extend, till further notice, the ban on entry to the Sultanate on incoming travellers from Sudan, Lebanon, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as travellers from any other country if they visited the above-mentioned countries within 14 days from applying to enter the Sultanate.

Second: To add incoming travellers from Egypt and the Philippines to the above-mentioned list of travel-ban countries, as well as travellers from any other country if they visited these two countries (Egypt, the Philippines) within 14 days from applying to enter the Sultanate. The ban takes effect from 9 am on Friday, 7 May 2021, till further notice.

The decision exempts incoming travellers who are Omani citizens, diplomats, health workers and their families. These exempted segments will undergo the prescribed procedures upon arriving in the Sultanate.

May the Almighty Allah protect everyone against all harm.”

Source: Oman News Agency