MUSCAT — The total number of COVID-19 infections in Oman neared 37,000 on Saturday with the detection of 919 cases during the last 24 hours. The ministry of health also reported the death of six more patients bringing the total case count to 36,953, and the overall fatalities to 159.

The ministry also reported 881 new recoveries, with 20,363 COVID-19 recoveries to date. Of the new cases 402 were found in non-Omanis and 517 were found in the local population.

Saturday’s daily case count marks a downward shift from the previous three days that have all seen daily recorded cases topping 1,000. Earlier this week, Oman reported its highest daily increase so far with 1,605 new cases.

This week, the health minister told a press conference that in case the country's infection numbers continue to increase, field hospitals may be needed.

On Thursday, infections in the GCC surpassed 400,000, and Oman has the second fewest cases in the region behind Bahrain where 24,805 cases were reported. — Agencies