All inbound and outbound passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the UAE will be suspended.
Published: Mon 23 Mar 2020, 9:00 PM
Updated: Mon 23 Mar 2020, 11:48 PM
The UAE tightened its borders and suspended all in-bound and out-bound air travel as the country reported 45 new cases of coronavirus on Monday.
Shopping malls and all other commercial establishments, including fish, meat and vegetable markets, in the UAE will remain closed for a period of two weeks, and residents have been asked not to step out unless for emergencies.
All inbound and outbound passenger flights and the transit of airline passengers in the UAE will be suspended for two weeks as part of the precautionary measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement on early Monday morning, the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management said the decision will take effect after 48 hours, and will be subject to review and re-assessment.
The decision excludes pharmacies and food retail outlets, including cooperative societies, grocery stores, and supermarkets. Under the decision, restaurants will not be allowed to receive customers, but will be allowed to undertake home deliveries. The new enforcement comes as 45 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the country, taking the total number of infected cases to 198.
The new cases span across different nationalities, including the UK, Canada, India, Russia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Iraq, Kuwait, Pakistan, Italy, Peru, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Montenegro, France and Poland, Dr Farida Al Hosani, Director of Communicable Diseases Department at the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi and the official spokesperson for the health sector in the UAE, said in a virtual press briefing.
She said one infected person, who came back from abroad, had failed to adhere to quarantine regulations and infected 17 others, including family members and colleagues. Dr Hosani also announced three new recoveries, taking the total recoveries to 41.
The Ministry of Interior called upon members of the public to stay at home except in cases of absolute necessity, including getting essential supplies such as food and medicine, or going out for work.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
A Staff Reporter
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