Do not be complacent this Eid, health authorities urge public

Health authorities urged people not to let their guard down during the coming Eid holidays.

Dr Shereena Al Mazrouei, health promotion manager at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said many people have been flouting rules and meeting in large groups during Ramadan.

She told The National it had been a challenge to convince families to stop doing this.

Since the start of the holy month, Abu Dhabi Police have broken up 39 illegal gatherings, but many more are believed to have gone unreported. Dr Al Mazrouei said the UAE was at a crucial moment in the battle against Covid-19 and everyone needed to continue to observe social distancing, wear masks and sanitise. She said some were complacent, but Ramadan and next week’s Eid Al Fitr holiday were no times for recklessness.

“Ramadan and Eid are very critical times, and we have noticed that people are becoming even more lax because of vaccinations,” Dr Al Mazrouei said. “We are definitely looking forward to 100 per cent vaccination.

“But those who are vaccinated should still not go out to Ramadan and suhoor gatherings and spread the infection.”

Only immediate family members living in the same house may share iftar and suhoor.

“Numbers of unnecessary gatherings during Ramadan and people going to work and returning back home to spread the infection are increasing,” Dr Al Mazrouei said. People have been advised to remain in “bubbles” where possible, and work from home. This makes it easier to locate and isolate groups when an infection is reported. A bubble typically means the members of a household. If someone needs to go to work, they should keep their distance at home.

“Family gatherings are a tradition, but with the pandemic we need to protect ourselves and those close to us, particularly the elderly and those with chronic conditions that fall under highrisk groups,” she said.