Oman reported its highest number of daily deaths from coronavirus on Sunday, with 29 more people dying of Covid-19 days before the start of a new lockdown.
The country also recorded a record 3,544 new Covid-19 infections, said the Ministry of Health.
The total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic has reached 1,776, with 171,549 infections.
In the past 24 hours, 105 people with coronavirus have been admitted to hospital, bringing the total number of patients to 733, including 229 in intensive care.
Oman will start another night-time lockdown on the first day of Ramadan, from 9pm to 4am, and last for the month.
Depending on the sighting of the new Moon, Ramadan is expected to start on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Omanis are concerned that illegal iftar gatherings might cause the virus to spread and push the number of infections and deaths even higher.
“The new lockdown in Ramadan will not work," said Rashid Al Sumri, 48, a farmer in the north-eastern Sharqiya region.
“People will gather illegally for iftar in their homes and farms, especially in towns outside the capital.
“This, I’m afraid, will increase the number of infections and result in more deaths."
Other Omanis said they believed the failure to follow social-distancing guidelines was the main cause of rising infections.
“Ramadan or not, the number of cases will increase because of people who do not take the virus seriously,” said Saif Al Wardi, 36, a social worker at the Ministry of Health.
-
Two clowns of the Sunrise Media NGO (Medical Smile) perform at the Son Llatzer Hospital in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. AFP -
A medical worker receives a shot of Covid-19 vaccine at Thanh Nhan hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam. EPA -
Medical workers prepare Covid-19 vaccine shots during a vaccination drive in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. EPA -
A medical worker prepares a Covid-19 vaccine as US President Joe Biden visits a Veterans Affairs Covid-19 vaccination center in Washington, DC, USA. EPA -
Medical personnel walk in the street during the vaccination campaign for older adults against Covid-19, in Lima, Peru. EPA -
Healthcare workers look after a homeless coronavirus patient, in a hotel room in Prague. AFP -
A medical worker waits for an antigen testing result at a rapid coronavirus testing station during a presentation of El Al Israel Airlines new ‘Extra Care’ travel measures at Ben Gurion International airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Bloomberg -
A commuter waits for a bus in Helsinki, Finland. Bloomberg -
A medical worker checks the body temperture of a man in San Jose de las Lajas, Mayabeque province, Cuba. AFP -
Pupils eat lunch at school as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Reuters -
Paraguayans take part in a protest against President Mario Abdo Benitez's health policies and the lack of Covid-19 vaccines in front of the National Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay. Reuters -
A person waits to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination in Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters
Mr Al Wardi said this was evident in the large gatherings being held and the reluctance of some Omanis to be vaccinated.
“They think social distancing spoils their fun and the trip to the health centre to take their vaccinations is a waste of time,” he said.
Oman’s Ministry of Health has urged people to be vaccinated, but only 150,000 have done so.
The country has set a target of three million vaccinations by the end of August, the ministry said on Sunday.
Mr Al Wardi said that the target was “easier said than done” and, with the continued flouting of social-distancing measures, the country was unlikely to meet it.
