Travellers defer plans after Oman changes COVID quarantine rules

Travellers defer plans after Oman changes COVID quarantine rules

Muscat: Passengers flying back to Oman are postponing their trips, in the wake of new mandatory institutional quarantine measures introduced by the Supreme Committee to deal with COVID-19, which has made their trips a lot more expensive. Travel agents have come up with quarantine packages for people arriving in the country, and although they are quickly selling out, people are being told to use their discretion while travelling overseas. The Supreme Committee on February 10 made it compulsory for all new arrivals in Oman to quarantine in hotels in the country, for up to seven days, since many people have failed to follow the required precautions introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They are required to take one PCR test on landing in the country, and a second after seven days. "My mother was supposed to visit us next week, but I asked her to postpone her trip because it is far too expensive to travel now," said Santosh Shetty, an Indian expat. "The flight ticket to and from Oman costs about OMR130, and that's affordable, but there are many added expenses we need to take on board due to COVID-19." "She needed to take at least two PCR