The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to spread worldwide, infecting over a million people with five-digit death tolls at hard hit countries – but the UAE confronts the threat with foresight.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said that the country began preparing for the pandemic early on and its advanced infrastructure and technology have geared the government up for the challenges the disease entails.
“We have started our preparation ahead of Coronavirus, and Thank God, the UAE is now secure and stable. We have an advanced infrastructure and we’re geared for all challenges whatsoever they are,” the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince said.
His Highness also assured that essential goods will be continuously supplied to all UAE nationals and residents.
“I’d like to reassure every citizen and resident of the UAE that our country is infinitely able to supply everyone with all the food and medicine they could ever need,” His Highness added.
The UAE continues to safeguard the health of its citizens as it implements several actions—some technologically advanced—to provide stability, as well as maintain safety and social order across all the emirates.
Game-changing program
Perhaps one of the boldest moves of the UAE government against COVID-19 is its implementation of the National Disinfection Programme, undertaken by the Ministry of Health Prevention (MoHAP) and the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in partnership with federal and local authorities. In this program, volunteers and authorities sterilize public utilities, public transportation, metro services public and private facilities, as well as streets.
With the continuous rise in number of cases despite the sanitation drive, Dubai led increased sanitation measures starting with a 24-hour implementation at the crowded streets of Al Ras, and eventually applying an emirate-wide 24-hour sanitation protocol that began April 4, for two weeks and is still subject for renewal.
The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai stressed the need for residents to comply. Violators will be subject to legal action. “The compliance of all people is vital to the success of measures to combat the virus and ensure the highest levels of protection,” it added.
This decision comes in light of the successful implementation of the program. Intensified restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles are also adopted to help protect the health and safety of the community against COVID-19.
All residents in Dubai were urged to stay home unless absolutely necessary. Purchase of essentials like food or medicine or performing essential jobs for the vital and support sectors were outlined as some of the only reasons that residents will be permitted to leave their home. Individuals heading out of their home should secure a movement permit, wear a mask and gloves and ensure social distancing.
Relief for residents
The UAE government has ensured the continuity of essential services to maintain social order and enable customers to complete important transactions—albeit remotely.
The government assures the residents access to digital government services around the clock. It is currently offering 3,730 vital services, which include more than 270 federal services, through smart channels on its official portal. Customers can benefit from more than 180 remote services, including vital services to senior citizens and residents and people of determination.
They can also search for an authority’s name or filter results by emirate or category, and services are arranged alphabetically for easy access.
These electronic services are characterised by their ease of use, account the needs of customers, are supported by a digital identity system, and enable customers to download documents and save their applications for later submission. They also enable customers to digitally sign documents and forms, which requires initial registration in the smart entry system.
In a statement to Emirates News Agency (WAM), Salem Al Hosani, Acting Deputy Director-General of the Information and Smart Government Sector, said, “As part of the authority’s role in achieving smart transformation at federal and national levels, we are keen to establish the appropriate infrastructure and general principles to provide integrated government services while considering the priority of dealers.”
In addition, the Ministry of Economy has affirmed that local markets do not face any shortage of consumer and non-consumer commodities, and that it is coordinating daily with the concerned local departments and bodies as well as suppliers and sale outlets to ensure smooth flow of commodities to the markets and prices control.
‘’Coordination has been discussed on an urgent basis between foreign suppliers and partners to increase imports of onion and vegetables in general. Necessary measures had been taken to ensure the availability of diverse commodities” said Dr. Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry.
The ministry, in coordination with local authorities, is conducting daily inspection tours to markets to check prices. A mystery shopper monitors prices and looks into complaints submitted by shoppers and reports price manipulation.
Social events, not this time
In line with the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure public health and safety, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi,) has extended the ban on all events and wedding parties, and the closure of nightclubs and other venues in Abu Dhabi until further notice.
In addition, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has also issued a new circular extending the temporary closure of commercial centers, shopping malls, cinemas, electronic game halls (arcades) and other entertainment destinations in the emirate of Abu Dhabi until further notice.
Other circulars that ADDED has released include the suspension of valet parking services; closure of fitness and body building halls; and the banning of hookah (shisha) in restaurants and cafes.
Meanwhile, in Dubai, Roads and Transport Authority announced the suspension of metro and tram services from April 5 until further notice.
All stations on the red and green line of the Dubai Metro have been closed from the public in a bid to further intensify precautionary measures against COVID-19.
In a tweet of the Dubai Media Office, it said that this is the first time that the operations of the Dubai Metro was suspended since its opening in 2009.
