In view of surging COVID-19 cases in various regions over the past four days, UAE authorities have warned of a potential second wave across the country. Asserting that the cases have increased due to the carelessness of the people, health officials stated that further COVID-19 transmission could be prevented if a greater commitment towards safety and precautionary measures is in place for the welfare and protection of the public. This will subsequently prevent the spread of the virus.

Speaking over the development, Dr Adil Sajwani, family medicine specialist at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, stated that the figures suggest doubling of cases every two or three days. He went on to assert that while people were following precautionary measures in public places, there was a need for better commitment towards safety at home.

He called upon the public to follow all safety measures, asserting that the government has been doing everything to protect the community amid the crisis.

"We don’t want to go back to the national sterilisation programme when people were kept at homes," he said, referring the national sanitisation drive launched by the authorities in which people were asked to stay at home from 8 pm to 6 am.

Minister of Health and Prevention Abdulrahman Al Owais also referred to the unprecedented increase in the number of cases as “worrying”, adding that the UAE's actions against COVID-19 will not be effective unless everyone complies to precautionary measures.

In this regard, the UAE authorities have implemented various measures across the country to control the spread of the virus. Here are the details:

During the initial days of the pandemic outbreak, experts had suggested that face masks were not necessary as it was assumed that the virus spread was majorly through large droplets that did not travel far. After various evidence emerged suggesting that Coronavirus could spread unknowingly through cough, sneeze, or even when people speak, masks were made mandatory for the public across the country by UAE health authorities on April 4. Several studies have proved the effectiveness of face masks in reducing virus transmission.

According to research, countries, where face masks are used increasingly, have shown lower COVID-19 death rates. Notedly, COVID-19 fatality rate in the UAE is just 0.6 percent.

At the same time, the UAE also mandated the public to observe physical distancing of at least 2m from each other (twice the standard recommended by the WHO) during the early days of the outbreak.

With the imposition of these precautionary measures, the UAE was able to reopen its businesses, parks, and beaches across the country without increasing the transmission of the virus. To ensure social distancing, the capacity of visitors and staff in many restaurants and shops has also been limited.

These strict rules have also been imposed with fine starting from around Dh3,000 to Dh50,000 to ensure that the public rigorously follows them. For second offences, these fines have been doubled up and third-time offenders could face up to six months in jail and/or a minimum fine of Dh100,000.

Here are the rules and fines associated with them:

Masks and social distancing: As per the UAE Public Prosecution, people will be fined Dh3,000 if they are seen without masks in any of places such as public transport, indoor public spaces or shopping centres, while walking around in public areas and in private vehicles with two or more passengers.

A fine of Dh3,000 applies to people who will not follow preventive measures “while exercising or taking part in sports or recreational activities in open places or hotel beaches, and when walking or gathering in gardens or public parks”.

Quarantine: It is mandatory for residents of Abu Dhabi to stay in quarantine after returning to the UAE, regardless of the airport in which they land in the country. This regulation also includes Dubai, while it does not ask its returning residents to stay in quarantine and to those who are waiting for the test results.

As per the regulation, Abu Dhabi residents returning to the emirate from abroad are required to quarantine at home for 14 days, failing to do so, they will be fined for Dh50,000. This fine applies to those individuals who have been asked to quarantine because they have COVID-19 and to those who have been asked to stay in isolation because they have come in contact with someone who has been infected with the virus.

Home gatherings: The rule forbids people to invite anyone other than first or second degree relatives at home for family gatherings. Individuals with friends over their home could be fined Dh10,000 and those attending the gathering will be fined Dh5,000.

Cars: As per the rule, a maximum of three people are allowed to travel in the car and this number will include the drive. An exception is made allowing more than three people in the same car if they are first or second degree relatives. Any rule-breaking will invite a fine of Dh5,000.

Private lessons: Anyone found to be organising, offering, and/or mediating private lessons in public or private places or even at people’s homes will be fined Dh30,000. People participating in the lesson will be fined Dh20,000.

Exceptions in rules related to face masks in Dubai

In late May, Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, allowed the people to temporarily remove their face masks in the following conditions:

·        While eating or drinking in indoor or outdoor places

·        Driving alone or with family members (with vehicle capacity still restricted to three people, including the driver)

·        Performing tough exercises

·        While a person is alone

·        During swimming or skydiving

·        Undergoing specific medical treatment

Meanwhile, children under the age of 6, people with cognitive, intellectual, or sensory disorders that can hamper their ability to breathe or interact, and people requiring supplemental oxygen or have severe respiratory conditions, have been exempted from wearing face masks at all cases.