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Covid-19 in Oman
Last update: 12/04/2021
Travel in Oman at the time of coronavirus
At the beginning of April, the covid-19 third wave and the approaching Ramadan, a traditional period of gatherings, pushed the Omani government to close again the country borders to non-residents. Therefore, it is presently not possible to enter as a tourist in Oman. April is anyway the end of the tourist season, so we can now hope the situation will normalise before autumn.
For information, before this new border closure, the entry conditions for tourists were the following:
For information, before this new border closure, the entry conditions for tourists were the following:
- Present a negative PCR test to be authorised to board the flight to Oman.
- Have a second PCR test upon arrival at Muscat airport.
- Quarantine for 7 days in a hotel room booked in advance.
- Have a third PCR test on the eighth day.
- Have an international health insurance covering covid-19 in Oman for a minimum of one month.
- Commit to follow the applicable rules, especially wearing a face mask in all public spaces, and to inform the authorities of any of the covid-19 symptoms.
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Since June 2020, domestic tourism has started again and hotels are open. There, the new sanitary and social distancing measures are of course applied: complete and regular disinfection of the rooms and shared areas, temperature checking, mask and gloves wearing, staff training, specific measures in the kitchen, hand sanitiser available throughout the hotel, etc.
Muscat International Airport reopened in October 2020 and received an international sanitary accreditation that same month. To limit the risks of infection, the tours offered by Oman Self Drive Tours have several advantages: you travel as a couple, family or small group of friends and you drive your own car, without driver or guide. If you want to avoid large hotels, we offer many small accommodations, from rustic to very comfortable: private house, guesthouse of a few rooms or even wild camping. Moreover, with only 15 inhabitants/km² in Oman, it is easy to respect the safety distances during our nature, adventure and hiking itineraries! |
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The state of the covid-19 pandemic in Oman
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So far, Oman managed rather well the coronavirus epidemic, with to this day "only" 340 deaths per million people, against 900 to 2000 in UK, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland or France (source: www.worldometers.info).
Among other factors, the quality of the health-care system, the Omani government’s early implementation of the restrictions and the very gradual return to normal allowed to avoid a strict lockdown of the population as well as an overwhelming of the health-care system.
This being said, with the recent slackening of both the population and the institutions, the third wave may prove a tougher challenge.
In Oman, the vaccination of the people most at risk started on the 27th of December 2020 with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and continues together with the Oxford/AstraZeneca one. To this day, 3% of the population received at least one dose (source: www.nytimes.com). The Omani population being generally young, this includes more than 95% of the more than 65 years old. The vaccination of the 60-64 years old was opened as soon as March.
Oman plans to vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of December 2021.
For the month of Ramadan, which should start on the evening of the 12th of April, a curfew will be implemented from 9 pm to 4 am. Gatherings are still forbidden, which includes the group prayers traditionally performed during the Ramadan nights (taraweeh) as well as the organisation of large iftars (meal following the sunset, marking the end of the day of fasting), as usually offered by mosques to the poorest.
Additionally, the parks are closed, the indoor sport activities forbidden and the beaches opened only to strollers and sportsmen. The schools also went online again and 50% of the government employees must work from home.
Among other factors, the quality of the health-care system, the Omani government’s early implementation of the restrictions and the very gradual return to normal allowed to avoid a strict lockdown of the population as well as an overwhelming of the health-care system.
This being said, with the recent slackening of both the population and the institutions, the third wave may prove a tougher challenge.
In Oman, the vaccination of the people most at risk started on the 27th of December 2020 with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and continues together with the Oxford/AstraZeneca one. To this day, 3% of the population received at least one dose (source: www.nytimes.com). The Omani population being generally young, this includes more than 95% of the more than 65 years old. The vaccination of the 60-64 years old was opened as soon as March.
Oman plans to vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of December 2021.
For the month of Ramadan, which should start on the evening of the 12th of April, a curfew will be implemented from 9 pm to 4 am. Gatherings are still forbidden, which includes the group prayers traditionally performed during the Ramadan nights (taraweeh) as well as the organisation of large iftars (meal following the sunset, marking the end of the day of fasting), as usually offered by mosques to the poorest.
Additionally, the parks are closed, the indoor sport activities forbidden and the beaches opened only to strollers and sportsmen. The schools also went online again and 50% of the government employees must work from home.
