Tuesday 29 / April / 2025
Muscat: The Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic held a meeting on Sunday under the chairmanship of Sayyid Hamoud Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior.
The Committee reviewed updates about the pandemic, measures of protection against the disease and ways of curbing its spread and addressing its different impacts.
The committee studied the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 locally and internationally in light of the latest data that points to a spate in confirmed lab cases in many countries around the world, including the Sultanate of Oman.
The committee took note of instances of non-abidance with the precautionary measures endorsed by the authorities concerned. To protect members of society against this disease and, to safeguard Oman health system’s capacity to deal with this disease and other diseases (while at the same time maintaining other health services), the COVID-19 Supreme Committee took the decisions listed below, which apply with effect from date of publication of this statement till 31 January 2022.
Firstly, to apply two-dose vaccination as a prerequisite for entry of non-Omanis aged 18 years and above to the Sultanate of Oman from all checkpoints.
Secondly, to allow entry to Oman only for arriving passengers who show negative PCR test issued within a maximum of 72 hours.
Thirdly, to cancel the decision that bans entry of arrivals from countries listed before, namely South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique.
Covid-19 Supreme Committee reaffirms that vaccination remains as a condition to enter public and private establishments.
It stresses that all precautionary measures have to be applied: prohibiting people who suffer from pulmonary diseases from entering workplaces and applying all precautionary measures within and outside workplaces, including wearing face masks properly, observing physical distance, keeping the hands clean, avoiding unauthorised assembling and crowdedness and physical greeting like shaking hands and embracing.
Civil Aviation Authority issues update
Later on Sunday evening, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the following changes would be applicable immediately and would be in force till 31 January 2022.
1. Foreign nationals aged 18 and above to be allowed entry only with two doses of an approved vaccine.
2.Negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours at arrival to be presented for entry to Oman. This rule excludes those who have booked a test on arrival in Oman prior to the issuance of the decision by the Supreme Committee, provided that the arrival date does not extend beyond 72 hours from the time of the decision being made public through a circular.
3. The ban on travelers from South Africa , Namibia Botswana , Zimbabwe , Lesotho , Eswatini and Mozambique stands canceled.
4. This decision is effective immediately until 31st January 2022.
