Oman to reopen mosques as coronavirus infection rate drops

The government said closing beaches last month helped to lower infections

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  A traditional boat is moored next to a modern ship in the port of Mutrah in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A view of the Al-Alam palace in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A view of the Mutrah castle in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A partial view of the seaside corniche in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A view of the area of Haramil in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A vendor wearing a face mask against the coronavirus sits in front of his shop at the Mutrah Souq in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A vendor wearing a face mask against the coronavirus sells dates at the Mutrah Souq in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A vendor wearing a face mask against the coronavirus sells fresh fish at the Mutrah Souq in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A vendor wearing a face mask against the coronavirus sells fresh fish at the Mutrah Souq in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A vendor wearing a face mask against the coronavirus sells fresh fish at the Mutrah Souq (Mutah market) in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

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  A vendor wearing a face mask against the coronavirus carries fresh fish to be sold at the Mutrah Souq in the Omani capital Muscat. AFP

Oman will open its mosques five times a day for prayers from November 16, but they will stay closed for Friday prayers.

“We came to the decision to allow mosques to open for the five daily prayers as infection cases have dropped by nearly 80 per cent over the past 30 days,” the Covid-19 supreme committee said on Wednesday.

The ministry of health also reported 302 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infected people to 119,186. The ministry also said five people died from the virus on Wednesday and the tally of deaths has now reached 1,321.

The number of people who have recovered from the virus is 109,633, while 309 are currently being treated in hospitals, 134 of whom are in intensive care.

The closure of beaches last month helped to bring down infections, the committee said, and they will remain closed for an indefinite period.

The government blamed illegal gatherings on beaches and private farms for a surge in infections at the beginning of October that reached 1,000 per day.

In a separate government decision, the Environmental Authority on Wednesday imposed a ban on plastic bags that will come into effect on January 1, 2021.

“Shops will no longer be allowed to issue plastic bags to shoppers from January 2021 and violators will be fined 100 rials ($25). This is to encourage the use of non-plastic reusable bags to save the environment,” they said.

The decision was welcomed by environmentalists, who said it will help to clean up the beaches.

“We don’t realise that each time we drop a plastic bag on the beach, It directly harms marine life. Careless people ignore the fact we are turning the sea into a huge rubbish dump and threatening marine life,” said Khamis Al-Hajri, 33, a marine engineer.