Muscat: Lockdown measures have blunted the Covid-19 graph in the Sultanate as the country on Sunday reported 978 new cases and 36 deaths over the past 72 hours, with an average of about 300 new cases and 12 deaths per day.
The administration of the second dose of vaccines, which started on Sunday, is also expected to flatten the curve further later this month. Doctors urged people to take vaccines and follow coronavirus protocol to beat the pandemic.
“We expect a continued decline in new infections and inpatients,” said Dr. Zaid al Hinai, Assistant Professor, College of Medicine and a Consultant of Infectious Diseases at SQU Hospital. He said that the numbers this week will reflect the impact of the total lockdown during Eid al Adha.
Dr Zakariya al Balushi, Infectious Disease Consultant at Royal Hospital, said that the vaccination drive must be accelerated after the Supreme Committee changed lockdown timings. He suggested that immunization centres must work until at least 9 pm to enable people to take the shots as the vaccination is the most powerful weapon to stop new waves.
“People must wear face masks, follow physical distance, wash hands, and avoid gatherings because we are still recording cases and it is still too early to remove the precautionary measures,” he said.
To avoid any more waves of Covid-19, Dr. Al Balushi stressed avoiding travel to countries where the virus is strong. One must also take a second dose. Attendance in weddings and funerals must be limited to immediate family circles, he advised.
The total number of cases registered in the Sultanate has now reached 296,835, including 3,850 deaths. Thirty-nine patients were admitted to hospitals across the country in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of inpatients to 550 including 232 in intensive care units. The total number of recoveries stood at 279,892 while the recovery rate was up to 94.3 percent.
The ministry has urged citizens to book vaccine appointments before heading to the immunization centres, which will ensure the second phase of the National Immunisation Drive is safe and secure.
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