Picture used for illustration.

To avoid the spread of Coronavirus, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments calls on all Imams across the UAE to carry out necessary precautions during the Friday prayers.

Imams have been asked to recite only two verses of the Holy Quran and the prayers should not exceed 10 minutes.

According to the circular, the steps recommended will help in reducing the possibility of the virus spreading.

  A view of the Sharjah Mosque, the largest mosque in the Emirate.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has urged citizens and residents to avoid traveling abroad due to the spread of COVID-19 in multiple countries.

A statement issued by MoHAP today said that those who travel may face preventative measures upon their return to the UAE - at the discretion of competent authorities - including undergoing medical checks at the airport, and a 14-day home quarantine.

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Those who test positive will be transferred to a designated health facility for treatment and quarantine to ensure their safety and to avoid contact with others, the statement added.

The extent of the damage to the global economy caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) moved further into focus on Wednesday as UN economists announced a likely $50 billion drop in worldwide manufacturing exports in February alone.

In remarks made at a joint press conference with the head of the World Bank Group, the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, said that the UN-backed global funds would make up the shortfall, in effect, by offering to inject around $50 billion into low-income and emerging market nations, pending requests for support.