Oman: Half of gov't staff resume work

ANKARA

Government officials in Oman resumed work on Sunday as authorities allowed half of the public workforce to return to offices.

The Supreme Committee tasked with dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic allowed earlier this week 50% attendance in government offices starting May 31.

It also lifted lockdown measures across the Muscat governorate on May 29, which were in place since early April to slow the spread of the virus.

The committee, however, reminded that the loosening of restrictions did not mean the end of the outbreak, urging the public to adhere to precautionary and protective measures such as wearing face masks "in order to protect yourself and your loved ones."

The Omani Health Ministry also announced the latest figures, saying that one more person died from COVID-19, taking the nationwide death toll to 46.

A ministry statement said 1,014 new cases were recorded over the past 24 hours, pushing the total infections to 11,437, including 2,396 recoveries.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Bahrain announced another virus-linked death, and 495 new infections. The country's toll now stands at 18 deaths, 11,288 cases and 6,673 recoveries.

In Tunisia, the Health Ministry reported one more infection, raising the total confirmed cases to 1,077. The North African country has so far confirmed 48 deaths from the virus.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara