MUSCAT: The Supreme Committee members are holding a press conference on Monday to talk about the latest developments regarding coronavirus in Oman.

Following are the members addressing the media:

• His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi,- Minister of Health , Member of the Supreme Committee on COVID-19
• Brigadier Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Kindi – Director , General of Operations , ROP
• Dr Amal bin Saif Al-Maani , Senior consultant in pediatric infectious diseases and infection prevention & Control

Excerpts from the press conference:

Minister of Health: Two patients in intensive care are of Yemeni nationality

Minister of Health: The technical team at the Ministry of Health sets controls for the third dose and recommended that scientific institutions give it 6 months or more after the second dose due to a decrease in antibodies.

Minister of Health: I would like to thank all citizens and residents who are committed to all health and preventive measures which has helped us in reducing the cases in Oman.

Minister of Health: Our health sector was on the verge of collapse during the last wave

Minister of Health: The third dose is given to frontline workers and those with chronic diseases.

Minister of Health: There is a fear and anxiety that the next wave will hit us as is the rest of the world. Vaccination alone is not enough.

Minister of Health: The third dose is not a booster, but rather it is necessary for people with diseases or those receiving treatment that lowers immunity, such as cancer patients and HIV.

Minister of Health: A decision will be issued soon by the concerned authorities stating the penalties that will be imposed on anyone who violates the entry of government and commercial institutions and has not taken the vaccination

Minister of Health: The current situation in the Sultanate of Oman is comfortable and reassuring, but the epidemic is still ongoing, and the virus has not disappeared worldwide, and there are new mutations, especially in European countries.

Minister of Health: The Supreme Committee is following up the situation at the national, regional, and international levels, and there is concern about another wave, as happened in some countries of the world.

The Minister of Health: We receive sad news at funerals and other occasions where there are hugs and handshakes among the audience.

Minister of Health: We hope that we will not have to impose lockdowns again.

Minister of Health: Unfortunately, there is a call for closer rows of worshippers for prayer in mosques. There is no one in mosques who can make sure that all worshippers have been vaccinated.

The Minister of Health: The decisions of the Supreme Committee are still valid, and the imams of mosques should call on worshipers to distance themselves and take precautionary measures, and all government and commercial institutions must adhere to these decisions.

Dr. Amal: We noticed a steady increase in influenza, especially influenza (A), and there were outbreaks of influenza that extended to 100 people, and we monitored death due to it.

Dr. Amal: The spread of influenza spreads in the same ways as the spread of the SARS virus 2, while we continue to record SARS cases 2. Our concern is that it is only a matter of time that we will start recording an increase in coronavirus cases. We remind all of you to take preventive measures.

Minister of Health: We hope we will not have to close down or impose a ban again. The matter is in all our hands. I appeal to all to take necessary precautionary measures which have been set by the Supreme Committee.

Dr. Amal: There are 13 monitoring centers for diseases, respiratory infections and infections in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.

Minister of Health: There is no consensus on the health passport for citizens of Gulf countries, and there are reservations.

Dr. Amal: Viruses, if they arise, are present in nature and take advantage of people’s laxity in preventive measures in order to enter the human body.

‎Brigadier Mohammed bin Nasser Al Kindi: The Royal Oman Police continues to follow up the implementation of the decisions of the Supreme Committee, and we confirm the presence of the police in all locations to monitor the extent of compliance with the decisions.

Minister of Health: Delta mutated is now universally popular, if the Supreme Committee decides to return to the classification of countries (red / green / yellow) it will return to it, but there is no intention at the moment for any closures.

Minister of Health: There is a complacency in government and private institutions not to measure the temperature and not to be sure of the people who took the doses of the vaccine, and there is a decision issued on May 16, and still in effect, warning against holding gatherings of any kind and not participating in weddings and mourning councils.

Minister of Health: All indications indicate that the coronavirus is here to stay.

Minister of Health: There is no intention to close the airport or stop flights from any destination at the moment.

Minister of Health: The Sultanate of Oman submitted a request to exempt the citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries from PCR examination in the last meeting that was held in the Kingdom of Bahrain and has not yet been unanimous. We are seeking to find a solution to this request by virtue of the proximity of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to each other.

Minister of Health: It was confirmed that Her Excellency the Minister of Education is following up on the situation with regard to buses and classes, and it was emphasized that the responsibility is shared.

Minister of Health: A working team was formed for each of the Sultanate’s governorates to follow up vaccination in the educational sector, and there is no excuse for people over 12 years old not to receive the second dose.

Minister of Health: Any person who has taken two doses of any second vaccination, the vaccination with the third dose will be from the Pfizer vaccine, and if he desires the AstraZeneca vaccine, he must take a technical consultation.

Minister of Health: PCR tests in health institutions in the Sultanate of Oman depend on two types: rapid, whose results appear in 4 hours, and the other after 12 to 16 hours, and there is follow-up from the Ministry of Health to reduce its prices as much as possible.

Dr. Amal: There are no side effects from children wearing masks