Municipal workers disinfect the streets of Dubai as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

Dubai: The National Disinfection Programme has been amended to eight hours, from 10pm to 6am during Ramadan.

The movement restrictions in place will stay in effect and residents are only allowed out for essential grocery/medicine purchases and vital sector work.

The move was announced by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Authority, to facilitate daily life requirements for citizens and expatriate residents during the fasting month.

Food shops, cooperative societies, supermarkets, and pharmacies will remain open for 24 hours. While Shops selling meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, as well as mills, slaughterhouses, toasters and confectionery shops are allowed to operate from 6am to 10 pm.

The authorities stressed that outlets and shops must adhere to health and safety instructions as well as precautionary measures in place. These include not allowing customers beyond 30 percent of the total capacity, maintenance of a distance of at least two metres between two customers, and avoidance of any type of crowding in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The ministries and the authority called on all members of the community to fully comply with this decision in the specified time period, which is in the interest of the nation, citizens, residents, visitors and the safety of the community.

The authorities called on the public to abide by all the relevant procedures, especially not going out except to buy food and pharmaceutical needs, and for those who work in vital sectors specified by the competent authorities.

They also advised people to adhere to fatwas issued by the UAE Fatwa Council to pray at home and avoid social gatherings and mass Iftar banquets during Ramadan for their own safety and public health.

The public are advised to abide by social distancing and wear facemasks and gloves when leaving home and to abide by all preventive measures and public health and safety measures.