Dubai extends sterilisation drive to 24 hours for two weeks

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management has extended the sterilisation programme to 24 hours a day, official news agency WAM reported.

The extension, effective April 4 onwards for a period of two weeks, is subject to renewal.

The drive, announced in coordination with the Command and Control Centre for Combating Covid-19, has been extended to all areas and communities in the emirate to safeguard public health.

In addition, extensive medical tests will be conducted across densely populated areas in Dubai to ensure members of the community are free of the contagion.

The committee has further restricted the movement of people and vehicles.

Meanwhile, food retail outlets, such as Union cooperative stores and supermarkets, pharmacies and food and medicine deliveries will be permitted to operate as usual.

#Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis & Disaster Management, in coordination with Command & Control Centre for Combating COVID-19, extendssterilisation programme to 24 hours a day and intensifies restrictions on movement of people & vehicles across Dubai. pic.twitter.com/JSOevjv4rG

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 4, 2020

The committee urged the public to comply with the measures and warned that violators found flouting the instructions will face stringent legal action.

Exemptions for general public

Individuals will not be permitted to leave the house except for essential purposes. 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 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

The UAE announced the detection of 241 new coronavirus cases on April 4, taking the total number of those infected to 1,505.

The total number of recoveries in the country tallies 125 to date.