Dubai establishes disease control centre; two-week sterilisation drive in Al Ras

On Monday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, issued a decree establishing a Center for Coronavirus Control under the chairmanship of Dr Amer Ahmed Al Sharif, reported official news agency WAM.

The newly established disease control centre includes representatives from the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention, and is tasked with preparing strategic plans and recommendations to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and to formulate rapid intervention plans in coordination with public and private sectors.

Also on Monday, Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced an intense two-week sterilisation drive of the Al Ras area beginning March 31 during which movement of people and traffic in the area will be restricted even during the day.

#Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announces increased restrictions on movement in Al Ras area of Dubai for two weeks effective from Tuesday (31 March) to facilitate intensified sterilisation procedures.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 30, 2020

The UAE is already undertaking an extensive national disinfection programme during which movement of traffic and people, with very few exceptions for vital sector employees and emergency medical personnel, is restricted from 8pm to 6am daily until the morning of April 5.

Read: UAE extends sterilisation programme, movement to remain restricted

However, the additional restrictions on movement of residents of the Al Ras area within the emirate have been taken considering the high population density within the area, reported WAM.

Those who are not residents of Al Ras are prohibited from travelling to the area during the two-week period.

Due to movement restrictions, the Dubai Health Authority would provide all essential supplies to the residents of the area during the two-week sterilisation drive, said the General Command of Dubai Police.

The Dubai Police called on the public to cooperate fully with the authorities during this sterilisation drive.

Dubai’s Roads and Transports Authority (RTA) meanwhile announced public transport restrictions to the Al Ras neighbourhood and surrounding areas for two weeks starting from March 31.

The entrances leading to Al Ras from three main roads and interchanges – Al Musalla, Al Khaleej, and Baniyas Street – will be closed.

Three stations on the metro green line – Al Ras, Palm Deira and Baniyas Square – will be closed, with trains passing through without stopping at these stations.

All bus routes to Baniyas area will be diverted to Al Musalla, Al Khaleej and Omar Bin Al Khattab streets, while taxi movement to the area will be restricted too.

On Monday, the UAE reported that two additional Covid-19 patients have died in the country, taking the total death toll to five. It also reported 41 new cases, taking the total number of cases in the country to 611.

Read: UAE reports two more Covid-19 deaths, 41 new cases