Tommy Hilton

DUBAI — Oman is to end on May 29 the lockdown implemented to slow the spread of coronavirus in the province of Muscat, including the capital city, according to Oman's national news agency.

Muscat, the district of Muttrah and the town ofJalan Bani Buali town were put on lockdown on April 10 to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Oman. The committee later announced it would be extending the closure until the first week of May. It then extended the lockdown again on May 5.

The government statement also said that at least 50 percent of employees will be working from their offices from May 31.

The country also banned Ramadan mass gatherings during the Islamic holy month, which finished this past weekend, to prevent people from contracting and spreading the disease to others.

Oman recorded a relatively small in increase in the number of its coronavirus cases, reporting 255 new cases on Wednesday.

The total number of cases is now 8,373.

The death toll is 38, with 2,177 people having recovered.

The majority of the cases (166) were Omani citizens, with the remaining 89 cases non-Omanis. — Al Arabiya English