Wednesday 15 / January / 2025
Muscat: Oman has recorded the highest recovery rate from COVID-19 among the six countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Figures released by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-STAT) show that Oman has also recorded the lowest infection rate for COVID-19 in the region, as of Saturday.
Oman’s recovery rate is 93.4 per cent, followed by Saudi Arabia (92.8 per cent), the United Arab Emirates (92.3 per cent), Qatar (91.2 per cent), Kuwait (90 per cent), and Bahrain (89.3 per cent).
The highest number of COVID infections have been logged by the United Arab Emirates, where 838,384 people have tested positive for the virus since the beginning of the pandemic. Saudi Arabia, with 679,384 positive results, is next, followed by Kuwait (528,254), Bahrain (355,314), Qatar (334,543) and Oman (330,767)
In the GCC block as a whole, 3,066,646 people have tested positive, while 2,769,881 people have recovered. It is the UAE that leads the way in terms of recoveries (771,624 people), followed by Saudi Arabia (617,114), Kuwait (464,853), Bahrain (311,418), Oman, (307,705), and Qatar (297,167). However, about 19,837 people have lost their lives to the virus, across the six nations: Saudi Arabia lost 8,933 people, 4,134 deaths occurred in Oman, 2,492 in Kuwait, 2,234 in the UAE, 1,403 in Bahrain, and just 641 in Qatar.
To help counter the effects of COVID-19, GCC nations – much like the rest of the world – have embarked on vaccination drives to inoculate their populations and keep them safe from the virus. 102,278,503 doses of vaccines have been administered in the six Gulf countries, so far. More than half of these vaccinations (55,999,194) were administered in Saudi Arabia; 23,405,912 in the UAE; 7,307,121 in Kuwait; 6,529,593 in Oman; 5,692,705 in Qatar, and 3,343,978 in Bahrain.
To halt the spread of the virus in Oman, the Supreme Committee has introduced a host of preventive measures that are currently in effect.
To maintain the healthcare sector’s ability to handle the epidemiological situation, the Supreme Committee on 23 January took the following decisions, to run for two weeks from the date of their introduction: Firstly, limiting to 50 per cent the number of employees who attend at the workplace in units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus (government units) and other public entities.
Secondly, suspending all conferences and exhibitions.
Thirdly, suspending congregational activities and advising the organisers to hold them without audience, while at the same time ensuring that the participants/organisers abide by the precautionary measures announced before, including showing proof of vaccination.
Fourthly, suspending the holding of Friday prayers, while at the same time allowing mosques to hold the five daily prayers at a capacity of 50 percent at each mosque and in line with the procedures announced by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
The Supreme Committee has urged all establishments to stick to the measures set for such activities, especially the need to operate at a capacity of 50 percent, show proof of vaccination, observe physical distance and wear face masks, among other procedures.
The Supreme Committee affirmed that it will review its decisions and the epidemiological situation on a regular basis and take new decisions accordingly.
The Supreme Committee also urged all to take all pending vaccinations and go for booster doses. The authorities concerned are urged to show no lenience in applying the precautionary measures, namely to ensure commitment to all measures at residences, the workplace and public places.
