New Shopping Mall and Centre Time Limit Announced in Oman

The announcement was made as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.

Shoppers and visitors are allowed to stay for up to two hours only inside malls and commercial centres in Oman, according to the government.

Muscat Municipality announced the visiting time limit as a precautionary measure to keep expats and citizens safe from the ongoing pandemic.

Other precautionary measures include an age restriction, prohibiting visitors aged 12 years and below or elderly above 60 to enter shopping malls, centres, or commercial shops.

"It should be mentioned in the guidance panel that the customer cannot stay more than two hours and similarly those who have a body temperature above normal will not be allowed entry," said Muscat Municipality.

Other health and safety precautions

Mall and shop staff are required to keep the public facilities adequately ventilated and regularly cleaned. All surfaces such as mobiles and work screens (computer, laptop, payment register) at shops and stores must be kept clean and sanitized regularly.

Hand sanitizers must also be available at the entrance or at the cashier desk.

Prayer rooms continue to remain closed until further news is released from the Supreme Committee.

Retail shops must not transfer their employees from one department to the other.

The number of parking lots at shopping malls and centres are also limited at 50% of its usual capacity.

At the time of publishing, Oman health authorities reported 1,142 new COVID-19 patients. 471 of the new cases are expats. The total confirmed Coronavirus cases in Oman is now 33,536.