MUSCAT: Diplomats, children under the age of 16 and adults aged 60 and above are exempted from presenting the pre-confirmed hotel reservations for the mandatory institutional quarantine in Oman, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said on Monday.

In a letter issued to all operating airlines, CAA said: “Based on the decisions of the Supreme Committee for dealing with COVID-19 and with reference to the Circular issued by the Civil aviation Authority on 11th February 2021 and in coordination with the Medical Response and the Public Health Sector and the Relief and Shelter Sector; The Civil Aviation Authority would like to inform all airlines operating in the Sultanate that the following arriving passenger categories are exempted from presenting pre-confirmed hotel reservations before they are checked in at the airport of departure :

1. Diplomats working at foreign diplomatic  missions accredited to the Sultanate , diplomats visiting the Sultanate and their families.
2. Arrivals under the age of 16, and arrivals at the age of 60 and above.
3. Aircrew, subject to the precautionary measures issued by the Ministry of Health.
4. Sick Passengers who obtain an exemption in writing from the concerned Health Authorities due to their medical circumstances.
5. Holders of permits for private institutional isolation centers that are pre approved by the Relief & Shelter Sector.”

Meanwhile, the mandatory institutional quarantine has come into effect on February 15. Passengers arriving in the country can stay in any hotels or take choose the list of hotels prepared by the competent authorities for mandatory institutional at their own expense.