Dozens of people have been arrested for breaking mandatory self-quarantine in the UAE.
The Ministry of Interior said 64 people had been referred to federal prosecutors to face legal action after they ignored orders to stay at home.
The ministry said the people had specifically been told by authorities to isolate themselves for 14 days because they had come into contact with coronavirus patients.
They will be charged with breaching provisions of the federal law on fighting communicable diseases, and for failing to adhere to precautions put in place by the government to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Last week, the UAE Attorney General, Dr Hamad Al Shamsi, warned the public against non-compliance with the precautionary measures put in place by authorities.
Dr Al Shamsi said breaking the mandatory self-isolation, put in place for recent travellers, is a punishable crime and puts others at risk.
The UAE's law on contagious diseases criminalises any "intentional behaviour that results in spreading an infection".
The penalty for this is up to five years in prison, a fine of between Dh50,000 and Dh100,000, or both.
The law also makes it obligatory for members of the public to report any suspected cases or deaths resulting from a communicable disease at the risk of three years in jail, a fine of no more than Dh10,000, or both.
The UAE has introduced measures to protect the public from contracting the virus.
They include the closure of malls, cinemas and schools, and a bann on public gatherings and activities.
Citizens and residents have been told they must stay home except in cases of absolute necessity.
This week, Dubai Police arrested two people found to be mocking and ignoring public health advice on social media.
Two Europeans posted stories on Instagram where they mocked the measures and encouraged others to defy them.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
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