MUSCAT — A book elucidating how the Sultanate of Oman faced the pandemic, how it affected the common people, the measures undertaken by the state in alleviating the pain among the people and the like are the subject matter of a book launched in Muscat last Thursday.

Titled “Corona Chronology- How a Nation Faced a Pandemic,”, the book authored by Kabeer Yousuf, a journalist with Oman Observer, was launched by Dr Ahmed bin Salim al Mantheri, Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation at the Ministry of Health, Faisal Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Abdul Latif Uppala, Board Member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Managing Director of Badr al Samaa Group of Hospitals along with the author in the presence of several prominent guests from both Omani and expat societies.

“Corona Chronology” is a one-of-its-kind, first time in post-Corona literature, which talks about the strategies that Oman adopted in conquering the pandemic, on a daily basis.

This A4 sized book analyses the origin, development and how the strategies and efforts of the Supreme Committee, Ministry of Health, the Royal Oman Police (ROP), the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) have helped the nation win over the pandemic, arranged in a chronological order.

“The Corona Chronology is a window to the multi-layered approach of the Sultanate of Oman in containing the Coronavirus from 2019 to 2022 when the world was reeling under the Covid 19. This is, as far as I’m concerned, a comprehensive approach in documenting the nation’s tireless efforts in safeguarding its people by offering all possible medical and logistical supports on a regular basis,” recalled Dr Ahmed al Mantheri, Undersecretary of MoH.

This nearly 240-page book shall be a reference guide for all those who want to know how Oman faced the pandemic. Also, all health care establishments, private hospitals, clinics, polyclinics, etc shall be featured in terms of how they managed the situation along with their interviews.

“Times may fly, people and lives may change but letters will live and the book will be a beacon for many generations to come who have not experienced the impact of the pandemic,” said Abdulla Rowas, Chairman of OCCI.

The book is the result of several years of research, investigation and analysis of the data provided by the Ministry of Health, Oman Arabic and Oman Observer Daily as well as the Supreme Committee over the period when Covid was at its peak.

The book details the preventive measures taken by Oman during the Covid period, the crucial interventions of the Supreme Committee, the coordinated actions of the Ministry of Health and the Royal Oman Police, etc. The author, Kabeer Yousuf, told the media that the Corona Chronology is a direct look at the relentless struggle waged against Covid by the Omani government, private institutions and various groups.

Besides Kabeer Yousuf, Jane Bickmore Jaffer, Veeyes Rahman, Neffi Rafiya, Ravindran and Sujoy Lonappan have worked in the creative side of the book. Badr al Samaa, Lulu, Noor Gazal, Suhol al Fayha, Al Farsi Medical Supplies, Noor Prestige, Adlife and Dr Santosh Geever are the supporters of the book that has already hit the stands since Thursday. Asif Shah, Anirban Ray, Azra Aleem, Gangesh Vadakkethil, Rajan V Kokkury, Anita Rajan, Sujith Thiruvonam and Athira Gireesh worked behind the successful launch of the book.

Along with the day-to-day analysis of the Covid days in Oman, an exclusive interviews with Maggie Jeans, Dr P Mohammedali, founder of Galfar, His excellency Pankaj Khimji, Dr J Retnakumar, Dr Geevarghese Yohannan, Aneesh Kadavil, Rayees Ahmed.

“I prepared the book ‘Corona Chronology’ – how a nation faced a pandemic, is an archetype of the Covid era in Oman and is based on the theme of survival, because the world today is known as pre and post Corona stages and such a period that transformed human race on the face of the earth needs to be documented for a plethora of purposes including research and studies,” Kabeer Yousuf said.

The book is distributed by WH Smith, Al Bhaj Books and Family Books throughout Oman and beyond.