ABU DHABI — Oman on Thursday reported 1,361 new coronavirus cases and three more deaths over the past 24 hours, according to a statement from the country’s Ministry of Health carried by Oman News Agency. This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections and virus-related fatalities in the Sultanate so far to 42,555 and 188 respectively. Recently, there has been a spike in coronavirus infections in the Sultanate with new cases surpassing 1,000-mark every day. The newly detected cases include 875 Omani citizens and 486 expatriates, the Health Ministry said. Meanwhile, a total of 1,156 more patients have completely recovered from the deadly disease, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 25,318, according to the ministry. The ministry also pointed out that it conducted 4,049 additional coronavirus tests over the past 24 hours. Out of a total number of 420 patients, who are currently in hospitals receiving the necessary medical care, 114 of them are in intensive care units, the ministry added. Speaking during a press conference, Dr. Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Saeedi, the country Minister of Health, said: "In the last six weeks there has been a radical change which is very disturbing and scary." “Within only one month, 27,000 new infections were recorded in the Sultanate, while in the first four months the total number of infections was 7,700 cases,’ the minister added. He blamed individuals who did not wear masks or practice social distancing and said some employees were going into offices when they had been in contact with infected people, instead of self-isolating. He said there had been more than 9,000 new infections and 43 deaths since last Thursday.