Dubai extends 24-hour sterilisation drive for another week, restrictions to remain

The 24-hour sterilisation programme underway in Dubai will continue for another week, with restrictions on movement also set to continue, the emirate’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced on Friday.

The programme, which began on April 4, was initially scheduled to end on April 18.

The extension follows the “positive impact of the two-week sterilisation operations and intensified restrictions on movement aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19”, a statement said.

#Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management extends round-the-clock sterilisation programme for an additional week.https://t.co/pkU9ydFsfX pic.twitter.com/3zmxlUZnsB

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 17, 2020

Dubai residents, excluding employees of vital sectors, currently require movement permits – available by applying online – for leaving their homes during the sterilisation programme for essential functions.

On Thursday, officials clarified that a movement permit to buy groceries or visit pharmacies will only be granted once in three days.

Those applying for the permit in order to withdraw cash from an ATM can obtain the permit once in five days.

Read: Update: Dubai residents can get only one movement permit every three days

Concerned teams from Dubai Police are “working at full capacity” to issue movement permits quickly, officials said.

Anyone violating the restrictions will face legal action.

The Supreme Committee said the “intensified restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles” had enabled sterilisation operations to be carried out on a larger scale and allowed medical teams to conduct extensive testing in densely populated areas.

The measures also made it easier to track infected cases and isolate and quarantine them, limiting the risk of the spread of Covid-19.

The committee stressed on the need for everyone to abide by the instructions and precautionary guidelines outlined by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Dubai Health Authority.

The full list of exempted individuals and the conditions under which residents are eligible to exit their homes during the sterilisation programme are as follows:

Exemptions for general public

People exiting their residences should wear a mask, gloves and ensure they maintain a safe distance from others.

Members of the public are allowed to go out for:
– Essential needs such as buying food from food supply outlets (Union Cooperative stores, supermarkets and groceries); only one family member is permitted to leave the house for this purpose

– Buying medicines/getting medical assistance from healthcare service providers like hospitals, clinics and pharmacies

– Covid-19 tests

Exemptions for employees

Vital sectors: Employees working in the below listed sectors are exempt from restrictions and are permitted to leave their house at any time of the day to commute to work.

– Healthcare services (hospitals, clinics and pharmacies)

– Food supply outlets (Union Cooperative outlets, supermarkets, groceries)

– Delivery services (food and medicine)

– Restaurants (operations limited to home deliveries only)

– Manufacturers of medicines and providers of healthcare and medical supplies

– Industrial sector (only vital industries)

– Industrial supply chain for services and basic commodities

– Water and electricity sector, petrol and gas stations and district cooling services

– Telecommunications sector

– Media sector

– Airports, airlines, ports, shipping

– Customs duty and border crossings

– Public and private security services

– Municipality services and public and private service providers involved in garbage collection, sewage management and general cleaning and sanitation

– Private and government sector organisations involved in combating the coronavirus (Covid-19)

– Public transport (buses and taxis only; metro and tram services will be suspended)

– Construction sector, subject to obtaining a permit from Dubai Municipality and the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs

Support sectors: Employees working in the below sectors are permitted to commute to work between 8am and 2pm.

– Banking and financial services (banks and exchange centres)

– Social welfare services

– Laundry services (for permitted outlets)

– Maintenance services