COVID-19 Live Updates: Supreme Committee addresses media

Muscat: Members of the Supreme Committee are meeting the media to discuss the latest Covid-19 developments.

Excerpts from the press conference:

1- The Ministry of Health has registered 618 new coronavirus cases.

2- 185 patients are currently in Intensive Care Units across the Sultanate. 10 were admitted in the past 24 hours.

3- Five patients have succumbed to Covid-19 across Oman in the past 24 hours.

4- "For the first stage, we have reserved a little over 1 million doses of the vaccine. We do not know when it will arrive because that depends on approvals and the start of manufacturing," said Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi.

5- On the topic of biometric attendance, Dr. Al Saidi said that fingerprint attendance at institutions had been reactivated.

6- "We witnessed a decrease in the spread of infection during the time of the night movement ban. The number of cases in the ICU also decreased as there was a reduction in the number of gatherings, which are already prohibited," the Health Minister said.

7- New academic year for schools in Oman to begin on Sunday says the Undersecretary to the Ministry of Education.

8- In public schools, students from grades 1 to 11 will undergo online studies while those in 12th grade will undergo blended learning. Kindergarten to be online classes only.

9- Undersecretary to the Ministry of Education: Private and international schools will apply the blended study method for attendance. Except for grade 12 students who will have to attend all classes.

10- Undersecretary to the Ministry of Education: If a guardian doesn't want his son to attend school, he must submit a request. For private schools, distance education will be used if the appropriate electronic system is in place.

11- Dr. Saif al-Abri, DG Disease Control and Surveillance, MoH: Those entering Oman must go into quarantine even if they test negative.

12- Dr. Saif al-Abri: A study between January to May on travellers showed that symptoms appear between the 2nd day and 7th day after infection. Some cases showed symptoms on 14th day, the day of their release from quarantine.

13- Ministry of Education: A laptop is not required for all educational platforms and they can be accessed through android and iOS phones as well. Except for two classes on computers for students between grades 5 and 9.