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uae, covid-19, coronavirus, sterilisation

Dubai - 'Select sterilisation programme could return'

Marie Nammour

Published: Fri 21 Aug 2020, 9:12 PM

Last updated: Sat 22 Aug 2020, 2:54 AM

The National Sterilisation Programme could return if the number of coronavirus Covid-19 cases keep increasing, a UAE official warned on Thursday.
"It is possible to reinstate the national sterilisation programme in some areas if there are high numbers of Covid-19 cases," Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA), said.
UAE has marked a surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the last two weeks which the Minister of Health and Community Protection Abdul Rahman Al Owais, called an 'alarming increase.'
Also read: UAE Covid cases on Thursday
Cases in the past four days have doubled in the last four days from 210 to 435 mainly due to non-compliance of precautionary measures outlined by the country, said authorities.
The UAE had completed its national sterilisation programme on June 24 and lifted all movement restrictions. The country-wide program, which was launched on March 26 to fight the coronavirus, saw a complete sterilisation of all facilities in the UAE including public transportation, streets and other public areas.

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- NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 20, 2020

Al Dhaheri said authorities are relying on the public's sense of responsibility to abide by the safety measures to break the chain. He said the country should be able to flatten the curve if numbers are brought under control.

We stress the importance of following precautionary measures. The first of which is physical distancing and avoiding visits and gatherings, which may be a primary factor in any increase in the number of cases.#CommitToWin #?????_?????? pic.twitter.com/HprdJmsBqs
- NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 20, 2020

The official also said the penalties and fines laid out by the UAE Attorney-General will be imposed to deter violators from breaking Covid precautionary rules. "However, we are ready in all circumstances. Any measure that we might take would depend on studies and actual data."