Oman reinstates curfew as Covid-19 cases surge amid slow vaccine rollout

Oman is set reimpose a curfew and commercial restrictions from 8 pm until 4 am following a spike in coronavirus cases and a slow vaccine rollout.

The curfew, which is set to start on Sunday will restrict the movement of people and vehicles, according to a statement made on Saturday by the Supreme Committee for Combating Coronavirus. Home delivery services are exempt.

Covid-19 cases in Oman began to rise from January, with a substantial surge in cases since a dip in early May.

"The situation is now changing, we are regularly now receiving stocks of vaccine... the campaign has [resumed]," said Zahir Ghassan al-Abri, of the General Directorate of Primary Health Care at Oman's Ministry of Health, in comments to Reuters. 

Oman began it vaccination campaign in May, and so far, has administered one dose to approximately 15 percent of the population, according to Abri. Oman, with a population of around 4.5 million people, has had the slowest vaccine rollout in the Gulf region.

Oman has recorded 242,723 coronavirus cases and 2,626 deaths, according to the latest health ministry figures, issued on Thursday, when it had 2,015 new cases.