UAE reports 809 Covid-19 cases; gatherings at weddings and funerals limited to 10 people

The UAE government reported 809 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, September 19.

It takes the total number of cases recorded to 84,242.

The new cases were detected following 103,124 tests undertaken to screen for the virus.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said that there were also 722 recoveries over the previous 24 hours, raising the total number of recoveries up to 73,512.

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/3itOiqcWa4

— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع الإماراتية – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) September 19, 2020

There was one new Covid-19 fatality reported too and as a result, 404 individuals overall have succumbed as a consequence of the virus in the country.

On Friday, MoHAP along with the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) announced a set of protocols governing social gatherings within the country.

Accordingly, for weddings and other family occasions, the attendees must be limited to first degree relatives from both families and the total number should not exceed ten.

Also, these individuals must conduct a COVID-19 test 24 hours before the event, reported official news agency WAM.

Open buffets are not permitted, while it is recommended that single-use utensils and cups are used for eating and drinking.

Distancing of no less than two meters should be observed between people, and those who display symptoms of the virus must be kept in an isolation room that should be prepared in case of a suspected Covid-19 case. Hand sanitizers should be made available at these gatherings.

Meanwhile, at events such as funerals at funerals and similar prayer services, face masks must be worn by workers in cemeteries, who should disinfect the tools used before and after the burial of the deceased.

At funerals too, only ten people will be allowed to attend, with the number of people digging reduced to two, and pallbearers to between 4 to 8.

Workers in the cemetery must disclose any respiratory symptoms and avoid attending the funeral.

Security personnel should be at hand to prevent overcrowding at the cemetery.

The authorities warned that punitive measures such as fines would be applicable to those who flout these directives.