MUSCAT: On the back of an unprecedented spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the Sultanate of Oman, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has intensified checking on hotels for violations of Covid-19 protocols.

“It has been observed that some hotel and tourism establishments have not been complying with the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” the ministry said in an online statement.

At the weekend, a hotel in Muscat was booked by officials from the ministry for violation of social distancing norms.

The ministry, in its warnings to all hotels and tourist establishments, reiterated the need to adhere to the protocols issued by the ministry and other competent authorities with regard to the prevention of the spread of Covid-19.

“The ministry alerts all hotel and tourist establishments to the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures to prevent Covid-19 and to avoid legal measures that may amount to the closure of the hotel establishment,” the statement added.

The ministry ordered all establishments to reduce the number of visitors in restaurants, meeting and banquet halls, and the rest of the other facilities to 50 per cent of the total capacity.

Visitors and employees must stick to preventive measures such as wearing masks in all facilities, maintaining social distance, and other preventive measures to avoid any legal actions that may lead to the closure of the facility.

The decision is based on Supreme Committee guidelines that gave the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism the mandate to monitor the extent to which hotel and tourism establishments comply with its protocols.