Oman to impose partial commercial shutdown for over 2 weeks to curb spread of coronavirus

Oman to impose partial commercial shutdown for over 2 weeks to curb spread of coronavirus

MUSCAT — Oman has decided to close all commercial activities in the country for more than two weeks from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as part of efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus, according to Oman News Agency (ONA) reported on Monday.The move, which will come into effect on Feb. 4 (Thursday) and will continue until March 20 (Saturday), covers all restaurants, cafes, and cafeterias inside tourism installations, in addition to home delivery services. The ban exempts fuel filling stations, health establishments, and private pharmacies.Authorities in the Sultanate also decided to extend distance learning for public schools from March 7 through March 11, during which conditions will be evaluated, according to the ONA.The new measures were taken by the country's top committee to deal with coronavirus during a meeting on Monday presided over by Interior Minister Sayyid Hamoud Faisal Al-Busaidi.According to the ONA report, the committee reviewed the international COVID-19 epidemiological scenario marked by a steep surge in the number of infection and death cases due to the prevalence