Covid-19: Dubai announces new restrictions for restaurants, gyms and events

Dubai has announced new restrictions for restaurants and social events to restrict the spread of Covid-19, the emirate’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced.

As per the new mandate, the number of people allowed to sit at one table has been reduced from 10 to seven at restaurants and to four at cafes.

Meanwhile the distance between tables at all restaurants and cafes has been increased to 3 metres from 2 metres.

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management mandates new decision to increase the separation distance between tables at restaurants&cafes from 2 metres to 3 metres, reduce the number of people allowed to sit at one table from 10 to 7 at restaurants&to 4 at cafes. pic.twitter.com/qgISFHWQ6s

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 22, 2021

The committee also mandated new restrictions on weddings, social events, and private parties, whether at a hotel or at home, effective Wednesday, January 27.

Attendance at such events will be limited to first-degree relatives, with the maximum number of people allowed capped at 10.

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management mandates a new decision limiting attendance of weddings, social events, and private parties to first-degree relatives totaling a maximum of 10 people only, whether at a hotel or at home, effective Wednesday 27 January. pic.twitter.com/Zks2K3wXa9

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 22, 2021

To ensure public health and reinforce safety measures, Dubai Economy and Dubai Sports Council also announced that all fitness centres and gyms in the emirate will have to now increase the physical distancing between the sports equipment and trainees from 2 metres to 3 metres.

To ensure public health and reinforce safety measures, @Dubai_DED and @DubaiSC directs the fitness centres and gyms to increase the physical distancing between the sports equipment and trainees from 2m to 3m. pic.twitter.com/ATTjqxPqD1

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 22, 2021

The new regulations come after all hotels and restaurants operating in Dubai were asked to suspend entertainment activities with immediate effect on Thursday.

As per the directive, issued by the emirate’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), dancers, singers, DJs etc. will not be allowed to perform at any restaurant or hotel across the emirate until further notice.

Read: Dubai hotels and restaurants to cease entertainment activities until further notice

In another directive issued this week, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) also suspended elective surgeries with effect from January 21 to February 19 in a bid to prioritise Covid-19 care.

Only elective surgeries that are for medical emergencies are permitted.

Read: Dubai suspends non-urgent elective surgeries for one month

The UAE has seen a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in recent weeks. On Saturday, it announced 3,566 new cases, taking the total number of infections reported so far to 274,376. 

It also reported seven deaths due to complications and 4,051 recoveries.

آخر الإحصائيات حول إصابات فيروس كوفيد 19 في الإمارات

The latest update of Coronavirus (Covid 19) in the UAE#نلتزم_لننتصر #التزامك_حياتك#ملتزمون_يا_وطن#كوفيد19#وزارة_الصحة_ووقاية_المجتمع_الإمارات#we_commit_until_we_succeed #covid19#mohap_uae pic.twitter.com/EGXmcF9fyW

— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع الإماراتية – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) January 23, 2021