MUSCAT: Authorities in the country have said it more than enough times — social distancing is the best way to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Supreme Committee have banned gatherings of all types in order to contain the spread of the deadly virus that has so far infected 45,106 people and claimed 203 lives. But despite repeated warnings from authorities, some people continue to violate the rules and gather at public places.

Pictures and videos of people gathering at a popular tourist destination in Oman over the weekend have gone viral.

His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi, has repeatedly advised people to stay away from gatherings in all his weekly press conferences. The Supreme Committee has also expressed its concern over the rise in coronavirus cases. But why do some defy guidelines set forth by public health and government officials and continue to gather?

“Please do not think about yourself only. Think about your society, think about your family, think about your country. I am repeating this every week and I cannot stress this strong enough that to reduce the impact of this pandemic we need to work together. It is not the responsibility of the government alone, it is the responsibility of every single one of us to keep the numbers low. We need to be responsible and accountable,” Al Saidi said.

Numbers are staggering
The number of cases are increasing at an alarming pace. In the last seven days, nearly 7,000 people in the country got infected with the virus and 44 people died, while 116 are admitted in the ICU.

“This disease does not differentiate between cast, creed or social status. All of us are at risk. There are laws that punish the violators but we don’t want to threaten by laws. We want you to be the law. We want you to look after yourself, your family and your community. The numbers in Oman are staggering. They are scary,” Al Saidi added.