The UAE has announced on May 18 that the new curfew time for the national sterilization program will be from 8 PM to 6 AM starting May 20 until further notice.
According to Dr. Saif Al-Dhaheri, spokesman for the UAE’s National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management, the new restrictions will also apply to the Eid break.
During this period, food outlets, supermarkets, groceries, and pharmacies will continue to operate 24/7 and will be exempted from the new curfew time.
Meat slaughterhouses, fruits and vegetable stores, fish outlets, tea and coffee houses, as well as dessert places will be allowed to open from 6 AM to 8:30 PM.
Meanwhile, malls and shopping centers will be allowed to open from 9 AM to 7 PM and are strictly ordered to enforce preventive measures such as not allowing children (aged below 12) and elderly (aged 60 and above) inside, accepting only 30 percent of customers, physical distancing of at least 2 meters, and not allowing shoppers to exceed two hours each for shopping.
The spokesperson said this the decision comes after observation of Ramadan, wherein the number of cases have increased dramatically due to the irresponsibility and recklessness of some residents.
“Easing restrictions does not mean to be reckless. We call upon all residents to abide by the rules,” he said. “We will take stringent actions against them. We will implement the law.”
