Oman: Muscat market alters work schedule due to lockdown
A major market for vegetables and fruit in the Omani capital Muscat has changed its work schedule as the country Saturday started enforcing a two-week lockdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
The central market is now working from 6am to 2pm daily, closing in the evening until further notice, the Muscat Municipality has said. It is limited to wholesale dealings.
Previously the market used to operate daily from 10pm until 6pm.
Municipality added that its decision on changing the operation schedule conforms to recent decisions by a state supreme committee in charge of tackling COVID-19.
Last week, the committee announced a complete lockdown among Oman’s governorates for two weeks starting from Saturday until August 8 amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.
During that period that includes the Eid Al Adha holiday, movement of people are prohibited as well as all public places and shops are closed from 7pm to 6am daily. As part of the latest restrictions, all kinds of gatherings, including the Eid prayers, greetings and traditional markets, are banned.
Oman so far has recorded a total of 74,858 virus cases and related 371 deaths.
