In New Delhi, the fear is that Oman’s move could “become the new normal” for many of the embattled economies in the region. There are more than 7 lakh Indians in Oman, of which about 6 lakh are blue collar workers and professionals, according to the Indian Embassy in Muscat. Besides Indians, Bangladesh and Pakistan nationals form a major chunk of the expatriate community, which totals about one-third of Oman’s population of over 46 lakh. The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a significant impact on every aspect of our lives in Oman and other countries across the world. Declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation in March 2020, everyone’s primary concern is to minimise the spread of the virus, to mitigate its effects and to protect those most vulnerable in society. The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a significant impact on every aspect of our lives in Oman and other countries across the world. Declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation in March 2020, everyone’s primary concern is to minimise the spread of the virus, to mitigate its effects and to protect those most vulnerable in society. An Omani foreign ministry official said the country is engaged with Gulf neighbours to discuss ways to back up its national programme to mitigate the impacts of the drop in oil prices and the coronavirus outbreak, asking not to be named because the discussions haven’t been made public.