Supreme Committee Bans Eid celebrations

Eid celebrations in Oman have been banned by the Supreme Committee tasked to monitor COVID-19, as part of efforts to bring down the rate of infection.

Those who do not follow the precautionary measures put in place – which includes wearing masks where required – will be subject to fines and punishment by the Royal Oman Police.

As part of a series of decisions issued by the Supreme Committee, on Monday, 18 May, it announced the “ban of all gatherings related to Eid, such as livestock auctions, Eid prayers, Eid greeting gatherings, and Eid group celebrations, because such assembly can spread the pandemic in the community.”

The Supreme Committee’s decisions also included “authorising the Royal Oman Police to monitor the compliance of individuals and public and private institutions, and authorising them to directly impose the fines and detain violators of these decisions.”

More commercial and industrial activities are also expected to be resumed, but those involved in these activities must adhere to the necessary preventive measures designed to stop the spread of COVID-19. The authorities involved in monitoring these activities will announce in due course the measures.

Under the rules put forth by the Supreme Committee, it stressed the need for “everyone to wear face masks in public places, including all permitted commercial and industrial activities, workplaces in the public and private sectors, and public transportation.”