Coronavirus in UAE: Dh2,000 fine if you leave home unnecessarily during restricted periods

The Dh1,000 fine for not wearing medical masks in closed places can only be imposed on chronic disease patients and people suffering from symptoms of flu and cold who fail to maintain social distancing while among other people. The penalty doesn't apply to other segments of the society, UAE's Attorney General has clarified.

The clarification made in a report on WAM, the the state media, followed public queries about the conditions of wearing masks after new penalties for violating the precautionary and preventive measures issued to contain the spread of the coronavirus were announced on Friday.

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the UAE reached 468 as of March 28, with 55 recoveries and two deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

The Attorney General, Counselor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, on March 27, issued resolution No. (38) for the year 2020 following the cabinet decision No. 17 of 2020 regarding implementation of regulations for spreading communicable diseases.

The resolution lists 15 penalties ranging from Dh500 to Dh50,000 for violating precautionary measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The cabinet decision, which was issued on March 26 and immediately came into effect, was part of the government's preventive precautionary measures to combat the spread of coronavirus and to protect the health of citizens and residents.

According to the resolution, the penalties would double if a person repeats the violation. And if caught committing the violation for the third time, the offender would be referred to the federal public prosecution.

Dh2,000 fine for unnecessarily leaving homes except for essential work

Among key penalties is the Dh2,000 fine for leaving homes during the restricted periods unless absolutely necessary to obtain essential food supplies or medicine or perform essential jobs in vital sectors.

The Ministry of Interior explained the essential jobs in vital sectors as including energy, communication, health, education, security, and the police, along with the military, and the postal, freight, pharmaceutical, water, food, civil aviation, airport, passport, finance and banking, and government media sectors, in addition to the services sector, which includes gas stations and construction projects, were included in the list of vital sectors. Relevant categories will be verified by the authorities through business cards or ID cards.

List of violations and penalties

> Dh50,000 fine for not complying with instructions of home quarantine.

> Dh50,000 fine for patients who refuse the mandatory hospitalisation or failing to take the prescribed medicines despite being alerted.

> Dh50,000 fine for violating administrative closure of public places like shopping centers, malls, outdoor markets, gyms, public swimming pools, cinemas, clubs, parks and restaurants dining customers. And Dh500 fine for people caught visiting these public places.

> Dh10,000 fine for organising social gatherings, meetings and public celebrations. And a Dh5,000 fine for people attending the social gatherings and events.

> Dh5,000 fine for not conducting a medical test upon request.

> Dh2,000 fine for violating precautionary measures set by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention by people coming from nations affected by communicable diseases.

> Dh3,000 fine for failure to observe health measures regarding regulation of roads, markets and other public places exempted from temporary closure.

> Dh3,000 for failure to dispose of clothes, luggage or any temporary structures proved to be contaminated and can't be disinfected by the standard established methods.

> Dh1,000 fine for unnecessary visits to hospitals and other health facilities.

> Dh1,000 fine for allowing more than 3 persons in car.

> Dh1,000 fine for not wearing medical masks indoors and failure to maintain social distancing by persons suffering from chronic disease or having symptoms of flu and cold.

> Dh2,000 fine for leaving home with no important work or a genuine reason.

> Dh3,000 fine for violating provisions of the law when burying or transporting the body of a person who died from a communicable disease.

> Dh5,000 fine for drivers failing to maintain hygiene and following sterilization procedures in public transportation.

> Dh10,000 fine for failure to take precautionary measures failure for the crew of ships from the captain or shipping agent, as the case may be.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

Ismail Sebugwaawo

ismail@khaleejtimes.com