UAE official warns of second wave if rules are not followed

Dubai - The authorities would consider reintroducing the national sterilisation programme in areas where an outbreak is detected.

The UAE could be at risk of a second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak if residents do not adhere to the strict precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, a top official has warned.
"The pandemic has not ended. If UAE residents do not adhere to preventive measures, we will be on the verge of a second outbreak," Obaid Al Hussan Al Shamsi, director-general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, said on Sunday in an interview on Abu Dhabi TV.
The official also said the authorities would consider reintroducing the national sterilisation programme in areas where an outbreak is detected.
Following the rise in the number of infections in the past two weeks, health authorities had called on residents not to be complacent. The public was asked to strictly follow safety guidelines: Wear masks, avoid gatherings and follow social distancing norms.
Al Shamsi cited the return of UAE residents from different parts of the world as one of the reasons behind the recent spike in cases.
"The return of residents was a major factor in the increase in Covid-19 infections in the country, and so is the complacency in adhering to precautionary measures.
"The increase in the number of infections was expected," he added.
Warning about the possibility of restoring the nationwide sterilisation programme, the official said: "We do not impose measures to restrict freedoms, we impose measures to protect the community of the UAE."
anjana@khaleejtimes.com