The government in Oman has decided to gradually return to a hybrid learning system, effective from Jan. 17 (Sunday), for school students in accordance with a mechanism to be announced by the Ministry of Education, the state-run Oman News Agency reported on Tuesday. The decision was taken during a meeting of the country's supreme committee tasked with tacking developments resulting from the coronavirus pandemic held under the chairmanship of Minister of Interior Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al-Busaidi. The meeting also followed up the developments of the pandemic and discussed preventive measures and ways to curb the spread of the virus and address other impacts. The committee underscored the significance of applying all precautionary measures in order to protect the health of students and teaching and administrative staff. The step will be evaluated in parallel with data on the epidemiological situation in the Sultanate. In its review of reports from the departments concerned, the committee noted the non-compliance of some citizens and residents with health quarantine procedures, either by stripping off the tracking bracelet or by skipping the post-quarantine test or by failing to return the tracking bracelet to the authorities. Accordingly, the committee decided to impose a fine of 1,000 Omani riyals against anyone who fails to stick to these procedures. In the meantime, the committee commended the cooperation of all people who abide by the precautionary measures approved by the departments concerned, which, the committee observed, led to a considerable decline in the number of patients admitted to hospital wards and intensive care units. The committee pledged to continue following up procedures to secure the distribution of the vaccine to target segments, either in their areas of residence or the workplace or public places. — SG
