MUSCAT: From lifting the night lockdown to making vaccination mandatory for entering government institutions, shopping malls, restaurants and travel, the Supreme Committee has taken some important decisions based on the directives from His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik.

With Oman witnessing a significant decline in coronavirus cases, the committee has decided to lift the night lockdown on August 21.

With an aim to bring life back to normal, the Supreme Committee said Covid-19 vaccination will be made mandatory from September 1 to enter government offices, shopping malls, restaurants, private sector facilities and venues hosting cultural, sports and group activities.

The committee also made vaccination compulsory for travel. Starting from September 1, travellers from the age of 18 and above must take two doses of vaccine if they are coming through land, air, sea and ports. “They must take the vaccine approved by the Sultanate and must also take PCR test before or upon arriving in the country and to adhere to a seven day quarantine with a re-examination of the PCR test on the eighth day,” the statement said.

The Committee also decided to endorse the general framework of school operation for school year 2021-2022, in accordance with a mechanism to be unveiled by the Ministry of Education. In this respect, emphasis has been laid on total commitment to precautionary measures cited in the Health Protocol aimed to ensure the safety of students, teaching and administrative staff. The situation will be assessed later in line with developments of the pandemic’s situation in the Sultanate.