Respite in Coronavirus cases after a massive surge in April

The Ministry of Health on Sunday announced 2,554 new cases of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and 33 deaths in the last three days.

The total number of positive cases registered in the Sultanate has now reached 195,807, including 2,043 deaths.

The total number of recoveries is 176,833, while the recovery rate is 90.3 per cent. 101 people were admitted to hospitals across the country, taking the total number of inpatients to 821, including 276 in intensive care units.

Keeping with the recent trends, 1,313 of 2,554 cases were reported from Muscat, 323 from Dhofar and 213 from North al Batinah.

Of the 33 deaths reported, 14 were from Muscat, 10 from Dhofar, and four from North Batinah.

According to analysis, Oman started recording more than five deaths on a regular basis (not including the three-day figures Sundays) from March 1.

The single most daily deaths of 16 (not including Sunday figures) was reported during this new third wave (starting March 1) was reported on April 20 (19 deaths), April 21 (17 deaths) April 22 (16 deaths).

The single daily infection cases started crossing the 1,000-mark during this wave from March 15 and less than 1,000 daily cases were reported two consecutive days on April 27 (928) and April 28 (927).

According to statistics available to the Observer, Oman on Sunday was ranked 20th for both daily infections and deaths, 15th in terms of recoveries and 104th for the mortality rate of 1.04 per cent.

The Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic had warned that the period from April 1 to May 31 will be an extremely difficult stage in the pandemic’s development in the Sultanate. “To avoid the worse, the Supreme Committee might take a series of tougher and more comprehensive measures that might culminate into lockdown and total ban on movement during the above-mentioned period.”

The supreme committee started imposing gradual restrictions from March 4 when it ordered that commercial activities across the country be suspended between 8 pm and 5 am.