Less than a year when all restrictions were imposed to limit the spread of Covid-19, the world fears another spell of travel curbs or new health protocols.
The current spell of Covid-19 infections has been limited mainly to China, some countries have been witnessing a slight surge in the number of positive Covid-19 cases in recent days, and it may be noted that international travel to China is not yet at the pre-Covid levels.
On Monday, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) issued an internal directive asking all employees and visitors of the University Hospital to wear face masks.
According to sources in the hospital, the decision has been taken because the hospital administration noticed an increase in the number of patients with Covid-19 positive results in recent days.
All employees and visitors must enter the hospital from the main entrance and should avoid the emergency department entrances.
The hospital administration will continue to monitor the situation to determine the next course of action, the directive said.
Qatar became the first country in the region to require travellers arriving from China to provide a negative Covid-19 test result within 48 hours of departure, the state news agency said. The testing requirement is imposed on all travellers regardless of vaccination status.
Speaking to Observer, citizens and residents said that it is better to take small precautionary steps than being forced to take drastic measures in the later stages, which will derail human lives and the economy.
The BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron is responsible for the latest surge in Covid cases. Several countries have already detected positive cases in international travellers, mainly those travelling from airports used by outbound passengers from China as transit.
"This current spike is only a temporary scare but if we remember many countries, including the Sultanate of Oman, lost thousands of citizens and residents, from the Omicron variant, which was said to be relatively mild compared to the earlier versions," said Nilesh Gupta, who lost a close and young friend during the Covid waves.
"The two years of online education was only effective as a temporary alternative, but it did have a major adverse impact on the overall all-round development of children," said Alisha, a schoolteacher.
Health experts told the Observer that there is no need for panic as the current spike is currently limited to Chinese boundaries. Still, basic precautions should always be followed, such as hand washing and wearing masks.
"We are not yet sure whether vaccinated people are insulted by this Covid-19 attack."
Around a dozen countries have imposed fresh travel regulations on travellers from China as it faces a surge in Covid cases following its decision to relax strict virus restrictions.
As of January 5, the United States will require negative Covid tests taken within two days of departure -- or documentation proving passengers have recovered from the virus within the last 90 days - for all entries from China.
Acceptable tests include "a PCR test or an antigen self-test administered and monitored by a telehealth service or a licensed provider", according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
While Italy and Spain have also imposed Covid test requirements, European countries are set to meet this week to discuss a joint response to the issue,
The UK government also said it would test "a sample of arrivals" to monitor for new variants. Japan was one of the first countries to impose new rules on arrivals from China, requiring them to submit a negative Covid test. India will require travellers from China and a spate of other Asian countries to provide a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of departure to the country.
Morocco has also has taken some of the strictest measures, banning entry outright for all travellers from China. The ban takes effect from January 3 and will last until further notice.
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