UAE closes all shopping malls, food markets and commercial centres

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.

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.

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.

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.