Oman will reopen its borders on Tuesday after closing them for a week amid concerns over the new, more contagious variant of coronavirus first detected by the United Kingdom, state media reported Sunday.
The Supreme Committee, which oversees the highest decision making in Oman, released a statement on Sunday announcing that borders will reopen at midnight and travelers entering the country will be required to quarantine for seven days.
Every traveler must have a negative PCR test before boarding for travel and expect to be tested again on arrival, the statement said.
Passengers entering the sultanate are also required to register on Oman's Covid-19 tracking app and wear a tracking bracelet during the duration of their quarantine.
Vaccine drive: The decision to lift the travel ban comes on the same day Oman launched its vaccination campaign.
Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Mohammed al-Saidi was the first person to be inoculated against Covid-19, state media reported.
The first batch of vaccines delivered on Thursday contained 15,600 doses and 28,000 are expected to arrive in early January, the health minister said, according to state media.