MUSCAT: The members of the Supreme Committee are addressing the press conference at the Ministry of Health headquarters.

Following are the members who are attending the press conference:

1. H.E Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saeedi, Minister of Health, Member of the Supreme Committe on COVID-19
2. H.E Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi , Undersecretary of Ministry of Tourism & Heritage for Tourism
3. Dr Saif bin Salim Al Abri , Director General of Diseases Surveillance and Control, Ministry of Health
4. Colonel/ Ali bin Hamad Al Sulaimani, Assistant Director General of Passports and Residence , Royal Oman Police
5. Major Muhammad bin Salam Al Hashami, Directorate of Public Relations, Royal Oman Police

Experts from the conference:

Minister of Health: The numbers since mid-October have been in a steady decline due to citizens and residents’ compliance with the precautionary measures followed.
Minister of Health: The numbers since mid-October have been in a steady decline due to citizens and residents’ compliance with the precautionary measures.
Minister of Health: Opening of activities does not mean that life has returned to normal or that the virus is not present. The number of infections can increase.
Minister of Health: We expect vaccine doses to arrive before the end of the year and have very limited dispensing capacity.
Minister of Health: We the members of the Supreme Committee, regret seeing some officials in their inspection tours and activities without wearing masks, and there is a directive by the Minister of Information not to cover events that do not adhere to the precautionary measures.
Undersecretary of Ministry of Heritage and Tourism: The losses in the tourism sector reached about half a billion Omani Rials.
Minister of Health: During the last period, the number of cases in intensive care reached 220 cases, and today, there are 65 cases, as a result of adherence to preventive and precautionary measures.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism: The Supreme Committee has agreed to reduce the quarantine period upon arrival in the Sultanate and to suffice with the PCR examination, while adhering to health isolation in the tourist facility until the results of the examination appear.
Undersecretary for Heritage and Tourism: The initiative to exempt citizens from 103 countries to visit Oman will revive tourism industry.
Dr. Saif Al Abri: As for land border ports, PCR examination is required before arrival to the Sultanate, and for airports (Muscat International Airport), the examination is not required before arrival, but rather upon arrival to the Sultanate.
Minister of Health: Monitor the epidemiological situation in the Sultanate before making any decision regarding the return of students from schools, universities, colleges and institutes.
Minister of Health: There is no law that compels anyone to take any vaccination other than child vaccinations, and the decision to take the vaccine is up to the individual’s decision, and we rely on community awareness.
Minister of Health: There are priorities set for those who are eligible for the vaccine in all countries, and if the vaccine is made available in the Sultanate, then the priority groups for the vaccine will be free of charge.
Bader Al Rawahi: ‎ In order to ensure that the Sultanate obtains the required quantities with appropriate conditions in terms of high quality of the vaccine, speed of supply and economic feasibility study, several consultation and negotiation channels have been opened with the Global Vaccine Alliance Organization.
Bader Al Rawahi: The ministry negotiated directly with several companies that manufacture the vaccine, including the three companies that announced their clinical results in the third phase.
Bader Al Rawahi: The target groups are the elderly over the age of 65 years with diabetes, those with kidney failure, those undergoing dialysis, patients with chronic lung disease, health workers in intensive care, and workers in the Covid-19 patient wards.
The Minister of Health: The vaccine will be free for the target groups, namely the elderly over the age of 65, those with diabetes, those with kidney failure, those undergoing dialysis, those with chronic lung diseases, health workers in intensive care, and workers in the Covid-19 wards.
Dr. Bader Al-Rawahi: The groups excluded from receiving the vaccine are children under 18 years of age and those who are allergic to some components of the vaccine.
Minister of Health: We do not have any evidence or confirmation that there was a death due to the vaccine.
Minister of Health: A mechanism has been set up for the distribution of vaccines to the various governorates of the Sultanate in the event of its arrival.