PIcture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE authorities have announced that wearing a facemask is mandatory in closed and indoors places to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The health experts said that facemasks violators will be slapped with a Dhs3,000 fine.

The heath experts said, “We would like to recall that wearing masks in closed places is mandatory, as negligence in doing so is a violation and the perpetrator will be punished with a fine of up to Dhs3,000, according to Public Prosecution Decision No. (38) for the year 2020.

This facemask mandate will be applied to all groups starting from Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

The educational sector and students will have to wear facemasks from Monday, June 20, 2022 due to their association with the examination period.

This will also be tightened over the coming period by the competent teams.

The authorities said, “We have also witnessed in the previous period a significant increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 in the country, as cases in the country increased by more than 100% in less than a week, and the rate of hospitalisations was also noted.”

However, in the recent period, the experts have monitored some behaviours that have become a danger to society, to public health and an indication of laxity in the application of precautionary and preventive measures, which negatively affects the recovery efforts that all parties are working on.

Studies have proven that wearing masks is one of the most important factors in maintaining health and safety from the risk of infection with COVID-19.

The effectiveness of the mask lies in reducing the speed and strength of the spread of the disease, especially in closed and crowded places.

The UAE Ministry of Health said that negligence and reckless behaviours in following precautionary measures led to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the UAE.

The authorities said that the public must follow the guidelines:

—Wear facemask in closed places

— Avoid crowding

— Take precaution while traveling

—Make sure of the SOPs you need follow in the destination country

— Check the travel destination through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 
— Not to neglect periodic checks.

The experts said that that Covid-19 is still present, and our first line of defense is still responding to it with the aim of protecting lives and national gains, and for the purpose of protecting you and your loved ones from its spread, and our duty today is to preserve the great and mighty efforts that the state has reached, which should not be in vain.