Restaurant on Dubai's Bluewaters Island shut down for failing to keep safe distance between diners

Authorities get strict with offenders after the country reported a surge in Covid-19 cases last week

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  Safety measures are implemented at The Butcher restaurant in the Marina. Dubai. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Covid-19 safety measures are implemented at The Butcher restaurant in the Marina, Dubai.

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  A "stay safe" sign in Jumeirah.

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  A man makes his deliveries on a moped in the Marina, Dubai.

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  A man at the marina hoses down a boat.

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  A Five hotel employee puts luggage through a Ultra Violet sanitiser machine.

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  The Waterfront Market in Deira, Dubai.

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  People look at artwork for sale at Anyahh Art in Dubai.

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  A man wearing a mask at Anyahh Art, Dubai.

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  A woman takes pictures in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, with a protective mask on.

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  A Covid-19 message is painted on a Dubai street.

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  A couple walk home from the shops in JVC, Dubai.

A restaurant on Bluewaters Island in Dubai has been shut down after it failed to enforce social distancing to protect diners from Covid-19.

The closure was ordered by Dubai Economy on Saturday after field inspections by the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) department revealed the restaurant staff failed to comply with preventive measures.

Authorities also ordered a café to close down on Friday for not adhering to safety measures to combat the spread of the virus.

Dubai Economy said a notice had been issued to a store inside a shopping centre after its employees failed to wear face masks.

Four other outlets were also warned for failing to install floor marking to ensure physical distancing.

“Everyone needs to adhere to the precautionary measures in order to protect public health and to ensure business continuity,” said a Dubai Economy representative.

The warning comes as thousands of fines were handed out to those who flouted rules.

Dubai Police said it issued almost 3,300 warnings and 221 fines at four malls on Friday and Saturday.

In Dubai Mall, 127 people were fined for not wearing a mask.

A further 1,290 warnings were issued and 11 groups were found breaking rules on gatherings.

Another 1,091 warnings were issued in Mall of the Emirates, where 17 people were fined for not wearing masks and seven groups gathered unlawfully.

In Mirdif City Centre mall, officers handed out 28 fines to people who were not wearing masks, and issued 208 warnings. Eight illegal gatherings were also reported.

In Dubai Festival City, five groups were found to have gathered unlawfully. Inspectors fined 49 people who did not wear face masks and warned 694 others.

Last week, a Day-to-Day retail outlet in Dubai was closed down after it saw huge crowds turn up for a flash sale.

It was also fined Dh50,000 for failing to enforce social distancing rules.