A vendor waits for customers at his shop in Bhubaneswar on Monday
BHUBANESWAR: Returning to normal now seems like a distant dream to vendors, migrant workers, small-time businessmen and daily wage labourers, as Covid-19 continues its relentless onslaught. The restrictions, coupled with it, have instilled a fear of the rerun of the financial hardships they faced last year.
“Since the time Covid-19 reared its ugly head, life has not been the same. We are faced with fear and uncertainty at every step. We are also putting the life of our family members at risk. Towards the end of last year, when the cases had started dipping, there was some hope of returning to normal. But now that seems like a remote possibility,” Pravat Kumar Swain, a vegetable vendor at Unit-1 market, said. He is angry with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation asking vendors to move to an open place to prevent overcrowding. He had shifted to the Unit-1 market from a school playground only last year. And now he
New Covid strain: Oman residents in limbo over travel plans due to border closure
Web report/Muscat
Photo: Alamy.com/ae
The Gulf country is one of three to close all borders in light of a new, fast-spreading Covid strain
Residents in Oman who’d made travel plans for this week are finding themselves in a state of limbo, due to the country’s decision to close borders starting Tuesday, after a new strain of coronavirus was reported in the UK, South Africa, Australia and parts of Europe.
State television reported that the country’s land, air and sea borders would be shut for one week starting today at 1am.
Travel plans of passengers go awry over border closure
By: Times News Service
Muscat: People in Oman who had made plans to fly out of the country over the next few days are confused as to what action they need to take next, owing to the decision to temporarily close the country’s borders.
Some expats in the country had planned to leave permanently under the Ministry of Labour’s repatriation initiative, as well as various schemes offered by countries to which they belong. Among them was Sushil Das, who was hoping to leave on December 27.
“I had booked my tickets with Air India a while ago, but I cannot fly now owing to this decision,” he said. “I have almost completed my notice period and have made plans to vacate my flat accordingly. I am in touch with my airline, but there seems to be no clear plan right now.