MUSCAT : Supreme Committee is holding a press conference to discuss the latest developments on coronavirus outbreaks in the country.

The press meet is held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi, Minister of Health and His Excellency Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.

Following are the excerpts from the press conference:

Minister of Health: The number of patients in intensive care was 51 before January 21 and the number doubled two days ago to reach 102 patients.
Minister of Health: The committee took a number of precautionary measures due to the spread of the genetic mutation of the virus, including the closure of borders and other measures that we did not want to take, but many people did not abide by the procedures.
Minister of Health: MOH has registered 6 cases of new virus variant
Minister of Health: We will have to pay a heavy price if we do not comply with the precautionary measures.
Minister of Health: The Supreme Committee was forced to take new precautionary measures including border closures.
Minister of Health: The next shipment from Pfizer will arrive in the middle of this month, and whoever took the first dose will be the first to take the second dose.
Minister of Health: The Oxford vaccine has been declared internationally and in the Sultanate and is manufactured in India. We urge people to stop spreading rumours about vaccines and its accuracy.
Minister of Commerce: The commercial activities previously announced will remain open unless another decision is issued about them. I thank the commercial institutions for adhering to the precautionary measures.
Minister of Commerce: Make use of online shopping instead of going to shopping malls during peak hours
Minister of Health: We know that some have been affected by the recent decisions regarding wedding and meeting halls, and the Minister of Heritage and Tourism and the Municipality of Muscat have been contacted to direct the owners of these halls to conclude a settlement with the tenants.
Minister of Health: The decision to close the country will not be taken easily, and we hope that the process of closure and imposition of lockdown will not be carried out.
Minister of Health: 2.5 million doses have been reserved for the Sultanate by vaccine manufacturers.
Dr. Amal: There are 96 suspected cases of patients infected with the new strain, but we are waiting for their reports to come and then only we can confirm.
Minister of Health: The discovery of any case infected with the virus in the school does not mean that the source of the virus is the school, but rather the community.
Minister of Health: We do not want to re-close the Sultanate’s airports to international flights. The issue was discussed at the Supreme Committee meeting yesterday.
Minister of Health: The airports were not closed because they were easy to manage, travelers follow and conduct tests, unlike the land borders.
Dr. Amal: The ultimate target is to vaccinate everyone in the country.
Minister of Health: We strongly cautioned those with respiratory symptoms or suspected of being infected should not go to work.
Minister of Health: Oxford vaccine is 90% effective and its safety has been proven, and it is produced from a well-known institute in India. We thank our friends in India for the gift.
Minister of Commerce: Oman has proven its ability to overcome the crisis and to provide various needs and supplies. The movement of freight and import continues at the ports and airports.
Dr. Amal Bint Saif: There is no specific test for the old or new strain, but after taking the test, it is possible to find out what kind of strains a person has.
Dr. Amal Bint Saif: The new strains are no longer limited to specific countries but have spread to most countries of the world, and most countries have the capabilities to detect them.
Minister of Health: The Supreme Committee may take a decision to publish the names of institutions and establishments that violate the precautionary measures.
Minister of Commerce: We call on everyone to adhere to the precautionary measures and not to crowd in commercial stores that shows offers or discounts. The ministry submitted a proposal to the committee to activate scouts and guides in commercial centers and at gathering places and monitor violations to avoid issuing public decisions that affect larger numbers.
Minister of Commerce: All the facilities and exemptions came as a result of the closure of activities, and the situation now is different. All activities have returned to their business.
Minister of Health: Most common new strains of the emerging coronavirus in the world is the UK strain. We have advanced capabilities to detect it, whether in the laboratories of the Ministry of Health, Sultan Qaboos University, or the private sector labs.
Minister of Health: Regarding land movement to neighboring countries for those working outside the Sultanate, there are special instructions for police officers regarding these cases.
Minister of Commerce: There will be another package to facilitate SMEs
Dr. Amal Bint Saif: It is unfair to provide the vaccine for welfare and travel purposes, and to deprive the target groups and who are entitled to it.
Minister of Health: Minister of Health: Whoever received two doses of the vaccine does not mean that he is exempted from quarantine in the event of travel because he may be a carrier of the virus and will pass it on to others even if he is protected from infection, and the concerned committee is still studying this issue.
Minister of Commerce: The Supreme Committee requested that there be an assessment of the current situation and previous measures, and there will be a study that will be submitted and include proposals if necessary, the development of other facilities to support the private sector.
Hamad Al Rashidi, Director General of the General Directorate of Education in Al Batinah South Governorate: There will be no exams during the first semester, but there will be final exams at the end of the school year.