Thirteen arrested in Sharjah for breaking Covid-19 rules by holding cricket match

Police have intensified safety patrols to drive down infection rates

• 

  The Third Place Cafe on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi has a sticker to remind customers of Covid-19 precautions. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  An 'X' reminds people of the need for physical distancing at the Third Place Cafe. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  The Third Place Cafe in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  Sanitation workers at Haddins Fitness, Zayed Sports City. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  Places of worship, such as Shiva temple in Dubai, have been subject to restrictions during the pandemic. Reem Mohammed / The National

• 

  Fitness buff Natalie Navikova exercises at Cobra Fitness Abu Dhabi at Al Bandar. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  CrossFit class at Vogue Fitness Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  A worshipper at Shiva temple in Dubai follows safety precautions. Reem Mohammed / The National

• 

  The floor of the main prayer hall at the Gurunanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, Dubai, is covered with plastic sheets to help tackle the spread of Covid-19. Pawan Singh / The National

• 

  Safe distance marking stickers placed on the floor at Gurunanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

• 

  Midday prayers are performed at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

• 

  Hotel beaches are now open to guests at the Ramada Abu Dhabi Corniche after Covid-19 restrictions eased. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai has safety measures in place to help protect worshippers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

• 

  Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

• 

  Shiva temple in Dubai put safety measures in place to protect worshippers. Reem Mohammed / The National

• 

  Covid-19 safety measures are put in place at Mahamevnawa Buddhist Temple in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

• 

  Residents wear face masks as they walk in Abu Dhabi city centre. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  People walk along near the Ramada Hotel Abu Dhabi Corniche during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  A visitor wears a protective face mask at Al Shindagha Museum in Dubai. EPA

• 

  A man on his e-scooter travels along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi as the sun sets. Victor Besa / The National

• 

  People wear face masks in Al Barsha, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Thirteen people were arrested in Sharjah for breaking coronavirus safety rules by staging a cricket match.

Inspectors found the group playing on unlicensed sandy ground.

The game contravened Sharjah's social gathering rules put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Sharjah's Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team said inspectors would continue to monitor the public and ensure rules are followed.

Residents were urged to report rule breakers by calling Sharjah Police on the non-emergency 901 number, through the Haris service on the force's app, or by emailing [e-mail].

Police across the emirates have stepped up safety patrols as part of a nationwide effort to drive down infection rates.

Last month, Dubai Police broke up a desert camp party where safety rules were broken.

The operator was fined Dh50,000 and each guest had to pay Dh15,000.

Video footage released by Dubai Media office showed a large stage and strobe lighting illuminating the sky.

The force also imposed Dh50,000 fines on the organisers of a yacht party in Dubai.

Several people were fined after ignoring social distancing regulations and failing to ensure masks were worn, Dubai Media Office said.

The yacht operator’s licence was suspended for a month.