MUSCAT: It’s a million dollar question everyone is asking about COVID-19: When will life return to normal in Oman? “It’s a tough question to answer but it all depends on how people protect themselves through precautionary measures and vaccination,” said Dr. Mohammed Al Hosni, Undersecretary of Ministry of Health and member of the Supreme Committee.

“We really hope that life returns to normal by end of this year,” Al Hosni said.

According to Al Hosni, MOH is planning to vaccinate over 30 percent of the population by end of June, while 70 percent will get vaccinated by end of the year.

“While more batches are expected to arrive in the coming days, vaccines will be widely available from summer.  European studies have shown that a single dose is sufficient to protect against admission to intensive care or death,” Al Hosni said.

However, the country is still at standstill with the virus. The total cases in the country is nearing 150,000, while over 500 infections are being reported daily. “We are beginning to see the third wave,” Al Hosni informed. “And if we want it to settle, we need to fight hard against the virus and only you can do it. Adhere to the precautionary measures, wear masks when in public, keep social distance and avoid crowd places,” Al Hosni added.