The UAE government on Monday decided to close all commercial centres, and shopping malls along with fish, meat and vegetables markets for a renewable period of two weeks.
الهيئة الوطنية لإدارة #الطوارئ_والأزمات والهيئة العامة للطيران المدني تقرران تعليق جميع الرحلات الجوية للركاب والترانزيت من وإلى الدولة لمدة أسبوعين ويسري ذلك بعد 48 ساعة. pic.twitter.com/inH5wwNh3V
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) March 23, 2020
The closure will come into force in 48 hours as per new regulations by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the National Crisis and Disasters Management Authority to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The decision excludes pharmacies, and food retail outlets, including cooperative societies, grocery stores, and supermarkets, along with fish, meat and vegetables markets dealing with wholesalers.
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) March 23, 2020
Exemptions include pharmacies, supermarkets, co-ops and wholesale open markets, such as the fish and meat markets.
The UAE first introduced measures in February, when it announced measures including stopping flights to Iran, the country which has been the center of the outbreak in the Middle East.
Under the decision, restaurants will not be allowed to receive customers. Instead, their services will be limited to home deliveries only.
People are allowed to go out if they are buying food, driving is permissible in private cars with a maximum of three people.
Under the decision, restaurants will not be allowed to receive customers. Instead, their services will be limited to home deliveries only.
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) March 23, 2020
Meanwhile, the UAE’s Ministry of Interior and the National Crisis and Disasters Management Authority urged people to avoid leaving their homes unless except for essential journeys.
