UAE bans gatherings on National Day, New Year
UAE sees 1,255 new cases, four deaths and 715 recoveries; fine waivers for those overstaying visas extended until end of year; infections in Europe cross 15-million mark.
The UAE Government on Tuesday said private parties and social gatherings would not be allowed in the country in the coming festive season due to the coronavirus.
The government revealed details during a media briefing on the latest development on the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, the official spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said, “With UAE National Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve celebrations approaching, we stress the importance of adhering to precautionary and preventive health and safety measures during all activities to tackle COVID-19.”
The authorities also mentioned that private parties and gatherings would not be allowed,.
For physical distancing, Dhaheri said the rules stressed the importance of maintaining a distance of two metres between people.
The rules recommend holding remote digital celebrations only and encourage reservations in advance for approved events lasting no more than 3-4 hours.
For all approved events areas for the isolation of sick individuals must be provided and entry and exit routes at all facilities should be clearly marked using posters.
The authorities said the law calls for cleaning and sterilisation of all public facilities on hourly basis.
The UAE health ministry on Tuesday said it conducted 105,024 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, which helped in the detection of 1,255 new coronavirus cases in the country. The new cases bring the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 152,809.
The officials announced 4 deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 538.
The Ministry also noted that an additional 715 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 144,647.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (UAE ICA) on Tuesday announced the extension of the period of exempting people, who overstayed their visas that expired before March 1, 2020, from fines until December 31, 2020.
The Authority clarified that they will be exempted from all fines related to Emirates ID and job permits.
Major General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, Director General of Foreigners Affairs and Ports, affirmed that the Cabinet’s decision regarding extending the amnesty, which took effect on May 14, came under directives of the leadership, to enable those who overstayed their visas, including those holding entry permits, visas and residence permits to rectify their status in the country.
The number of coronavirus infections in Europe climbed past 15 million on Tuesday, according to a mediatally from official sources.
Infections in the United States, meanwhile, show no sign of relenting ater one million new cases in less than a week pushed the total number to 11,206,054 with 247,229 deaths.
The spikes have prompted new curbs in various states, while experts warn families against large gatherings for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
The continent is the worst-hit region in the world, ahead of Latin America and the Caribbean which together have recorded 12.1 million cases and Asia with 11.5 million.
Globally more than 55 million Covid-19 infections have been registered since the pandemic began early in the year.
Plans for vaccination programmes began taking shape in Europe and the United States following recent breakthroughs, but surging coronavirus caseloads prompted gruelling new restrictions, with Austria taking the unpopular step on Tuesday of closing schools and shops.
Global hopes of beating the pandemic were high ater US biotech firm Moderna said its vaccine candidate was nearly 95 percent effective in a trial, a week ater similar results announced by pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner Biontech.
With 29,163 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, India recorded its lowest daily surge since July 14, when 28,498 cases were added, before it spiralled out of control in August-september.
With 449 more fatalities in the past 24 hours, India toll stood at 1,30,519, as the overall tally reached 88,74,290, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed.