Erring travel agency in Business Bay area closed
DUBAI: The Commercial Control and Consumer Protection of the Dubai Economy closed a travel agency in the Business Bay area for offering to conduct “COVID-19” test via Whatsapp, which is considered a clear violation of commercial activity, as these tests are only done and licensed by the Ministry of Health and the Dubai Health Authority.
Details date back to an earlier time when a woman sent a notice to the Commercial Control and Consumer Protection of the Dubai Economy complaining about the quality of the home test service for COVID-19. ,
Thecommercialcontrolteamgatheredinformation about the service provider, and found that it was a tourism office which received the customers’ requests via Whatsapp and asked them to fix the appropriate date, fill in their data and atach passport copies via an electronic link. Then they were asked to pay electronically. The team accordingly closed the office.
Abdul Aziz Al Tanak, Director of the Commercial Control Department, said the inspection teams monitor the markets and carefully study any notes they receive to ensure that commercial establishments adhere to commercial laws, to preserve the safety of consumers and their rights, especially during the pandemic.
Dubai has been clamping down social gatherings and tour operators for violating the COVID-19 precautionary measures set up by the authorities.
The authorities have been strict with enforcing rules in the emirate as COVID-19 cases tend to rise in the past few days.
Lastweek,thedubaimediaofficesaid,“thedubai Police, in cooperation with Dubai Tourism, shuts down a desert camp that organised a private gathering while violating Covid-19 precautionary measures. “The camp operator was fined Dhs50,000 while each participant was fined Dhs15,000.”
A video published by media office showed people without facemasks are holing up in close proximity with each other. An official said it was a clear violation of COVID-19 measures.
The Dubai Government Media Office stated via Twiter that Dubai Police seize and issues violations of Dhs50,000 for several people who held a private party in a commercial yacht without commiting to social distancing and wearing masks, and the entity’s licence of the yacht was suspended for a month.
Social gatherings and private parties have been the main cause of the surge in coronavirus cases in the UAE.
Theauthoritiessaidthatprivatepartiesandmeetings are responsible for the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, Lt Gen Abdullahkhalifaalmarri,injanuaryurgedeveryone to follow the precautionary measures and social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of the virus.