Gulf News

Hefty fines for gatherings at home

UAE DISINFECTI­ON DRIVE FROM 8PM-6AM; EID AL FITR PRAYERS WILL BE PERFORMED AT HOME

- BY KHITAM AL AMIR Senior Staff Writer

Eid prayers will be performed at home and those who organise gatherings at home will face hefty fines as part of the new restrictio­ns coming into effect from tomorrow, officials said yesterday.

Starting tomorrow, the National Disinfecti­on Programme will be carried out from 8pm to 6am until further notice, Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, spokespers­on of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, said. Also, shopping malls will remain open from 9am to 7pm from tomorrow. All places of worships, including mosques will continue to remain closed until further notice and Eid Al Fitr prayers and all prayers will be performed at home.

Dh10,000 fine for hosting home gatherings

Salem Al Zaabi, acting Chairman of the Public Prosecutio­n for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster, said a fine of up to Dh10,000 will be slapped on those who invite others for gatherings at homes.

Dh3,000 fine for not wearing mask

Also, a fine of Dh3,000 will be imposed on violators who do not wear face masks and those who don’t maintain a safe distance will face a fine of up to Dh3,000.

The UAE yesterday confirmed 832 new cases, raising the total to 24,190. The virus also claimed four more lives. The UAE also announced

the recovery of 1,065 patients.

Stranded residents can return from June 1

Meanwhile, UAE residents stranded outside the country can return from June 1. Those who wish to return must register for the ‘Entry Permit for Residents’ service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Internatio­nal Cooperatio­n and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenshi­p website, smartservi­ces.ica.gov.ae

The UAE yesterday revised the list of fines for those who violate Covid-19 restrictio­ns in an effort to enforce social distancing and slow infections as the Eid Al Fitr holiday approaches.

Salem Al Zaabi, acting chairman of the Public Prosecutio­n for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster, said a fine of up to Dh10,000 will be slapped on those who invite others for gatherings at homes.

Those who fail to comply with home quarantine will be fined Dh50,000.

Offender will be referred to the public prosecutio­n in case of repeated violations and/or non-compliance with the quarantine instructio­ns for the second time. He/she could be subjected to a criminal trial and be jailed for up to six months, and/or fined not less than Dh100,000.

832 new cases, 4 deaths

The UAE yesterday reported 832 new infections and four more deaths, taking total cases to 24,190 and the death toll to 224. The Ministry of Health and Prevention also announced the recovery of 1,065 patients, taking total recoveries to 9,577

Al Qutami said that UAE is one of the top countries in the world in conducting tests for the virus. Dubai has conducted about 430,000 tests since the beginning of the crisis, he said.

Meanwhile, the UAE has seen an increase in Covid-19 infections among Emiratis during Ramadan due to family visits, a senior official said.

Humaid Al Qutami, director-general of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said the authority had noticed an increase in infected citizens in the last two weeks.

“Since the beginning of Ramadan, we spotted [an] increase in the number of new cases among Emiratis due to family visits,” Al Qutami said during a virtual Ramadan session with a number of officials on Sunday.

Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Public Security in Dubai, said that UAE has no shortage in food supplies.

 ?? WAM ?? His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during his visit yesterday to the Emirates field hospital in Mohammad Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.
WAM His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during his visit yesterday to the Emirates field hospital in Mohammad Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.

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