Expatriates arrested for playing cricket in Oman

Dozens of expatriates were arrested in Oman last week for breaking local Covid-19 rules after playing a game of cricket.

More than 30 foreigners were apprehended for violating coronavirus measures put in place by the Supreme Committee while playing a game of cricket in the country's capital, Muscat, the Royal Oman Police said on Sunday.

"A group of 34 expatriates have been arrested in Al Ansab for violating the Supreme Committee's measures and playing cricket on Friday. Everyone must abide by the decisions to contain the spread of the virus,” the police said in a tweet.

Coronavirus infections are surging in the Gulf Arab state, where health officials warned on Monday that hospitals now face an acute shortage of beds amid a lagging vaccine rollout, the spread of highly transmissible variants, and relaxed movement restrictions.

The influx of severe infections has forced overwhelmed hospitals nationwide to turn away patients, local media reported.

The main Covid-19 field hospital in Muscat surpassed 90 percent occupancy and its intensive care beds are now completely full, said the state-run Omani News Agency. Many smaller hospitals across the country also said they were operating beyond capacity.