MUSCAT : There are no immediate plans for the government to impose a lockdown in Oman in the wake of a new strain of the coronavirus that is spreading rapidly in some countries, Minister of Health confirmed on Monday.

His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi said that the authorities are closely following-up the situation and the decision to close borders was taken as a precautionary measure. “The epidemiological surveillance is in place, and if the Supreme Committee decides that there will be a future closure in the Sultanate, it will be in limited places,” Al Saidi confirmed.

Oman has closed all its borders for one week including airports as a new strain of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom (UK) and has forced several countries to suspend flights to Britain. Scientists are studying the mutation pattern of the virus to know the new variant better.